Latest news with #WakeCounty
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Wake schools now have a cellphone policy. What students and parents should know.
Wake County elementary and middle schools are now expected to become cellphone-free during the school day with high schools allowing the devices to be used in limited situations. The Wake County school board unanimously gave final approval Tuesday to a new cellphone policy that says personal wireless communication devices must be silenced and put away during instructional time. The policy would allow high school students to take their phones out during breaks and if allowed in class by the teacher. 'High school students are different,' said school board member Lynn Edmonds. 'They should have a little bit more autonomy.' Failure to follow the new policy, which goes into effect in July, could result in phones being confiscated and students being disciplined. The policy represents Wake County's first attempt to standardize cellphone rules across all schools. Previously, individual schools set their own policies. Wake's new phone policy comes amid growing concerns about the negative impacts the devices have on learning and students' mental health. At least 24 states have laws or policies that ban or restrict students' use of cellphones in schools statewide or recommend local districts enact their own bans or restrictive policies, according to an Education Week analysis. Both the state House and Senate have passed their own bills restricting cellphone use in school and included the language in their budget proposals. Wake would have to change the policy if the Senate bill becomes law because it requires phones to be turned off and not just silenced in class. School leaders say the policy will likely need to be revised on a regular basis due to changes in technology. The phone policy is more restrictive at elementary schools and middle school than high schools. Under the policy, elementary and middle school students would be required to put their phones away during instructional time between morning and afternoon bells. To provide consistency, the board rejected adding wording on Tuesday that would allow schools to place additional restrictions. The policy defines 'put away' as being out of sight and not easily accessible. This can include putting the phone in a locker, backpack or bag. Students wouldn't be allowed to leave their phones in their pocket. Some exceptions would be allowed for students to use phones during school: ▪ Phones can be used during school hours if they're authorized or required in the individualized education program or Section 504 plan of a student with disabilities. Wording was added Tuesday to also include if phones are used by students with disabilities for translation or assistive communication. ▪ Phones can be used if they're part of a student's individualized health plan. Examples include using the phone to monitor a student's glucose levels ▪ School staff may authorize brief use of a device if there is a reasonable and legitimate need to communicate with someone outside the school during the instructional day. Students must ask for permission in advance, unless they're calling 911 in an emergency. Two exceptions would only apply at high schools: ▪ The high school is allowing teachers to authorize use of devices during class for instructional purposes. ▪ The high school has developed a rule for allowing the devices to be used during specified non-instructional time, such as class change and lunch. School board member Toshiba Rice said it would cause too many problems telling high school students that they can't check their phones during non-instructional times. 'You can't take away something that is part of a person's social norms in its entirety,' Rice said. The policy allows school staff to temporarily confiscate a student's phone if they've repeatedly violated the policy or their use of the device is substantially disrupting other students. At the urging of board member Lindsay Mahaffey, the policy was amended Tuesday to say that students will get a verbal warning first about silencing or putting away their phones before they are confiscated. 'They're children,' Mahaffey said. 'Children make mistakes.' Phones are generally supposed to be returned at the end of the class. But they can be confiscated for the entire school day if the student's behavior is substantially disruptive or if they've regularly violated the policy. Parents are supposed to be notified if their student's device is being repeatedly confiscated or if it's being confiscated for the entire school day. Parents can be required to come to the school to pick up the confiscated phone if there's been a pattern of violations all school year and written warning was provided ahead of time. The policy says the school system will not accept responsibility for the theft, loss or damage to phones. Ahead of the vote, the district surveyed teachers about the policy with 2,617 submitting responses. ▪ 87.6% of teachers agree or strongly agree that phones should be turned off during instructional time. ▪ Teachers were split whether there are appropriate times when student device use can be encouraged with 43.5% agreeing or strongly agreeing and 42.2% of teachers disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. ▪ 58.8% of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that device confiscation should only be used as a last resort after other classroom management strategies have failed. ▪ 61.9% of teachers agree or strongly agree that they support device confiscation in classrooms. Also on Tuesday, the school board voted to convert Lake Myra Elementary School in Wendell to a multi-track year-round calendar starting in the 2026-27 school year. In a multi-track calendar, all the students are divided into four groups, called tracks, which have their own rotating schedules. Three tracks are in session at all times, which can increase the building's capacity by 20% or more. The conversion will expand Lake Myra's capacity from 616 students to 814 students. Lake Myra currently uses a track 4 year-round calendar, meaning all students follow the same schedule.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
SBI investigating death of 45-year-old inmate at Wake County Detention Center
State authorities are investigating after an inmate died at the Wake County Detention Center on Saturday. The Wake County Sheriff's office confirmed that Carlos Roberts, a 45-year old inmate at the detention center, died while in custody. According to a news release, medical staff on-site attempted life-saving measures and emergency services were called. The sheriff's office has referred the case to the State Bureau of Investigation, which is standard protocol for inmate deaths. Any findings would be reported to the Wake County District Attorney. The sheriff's office said it would also conduct its own internal investigation.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Raleigh Rescue Mission breaks ground on campus for children, women
Artist rendering of The Garden. (Courtesy of the Raleigh Rescue Mission) The Raleigh Rescue Mission on Tuesday broke ground on the construction of a new campus in Knightdale that will expand its capacity to serve women and children by 483%, the organization announced in a news release. The new campus — The Garden — is being developed in partnership with the Town of Knightdale and the homebuilder Lennar. It's backed by more than $25 million in commitments from private foundations and donors, the Rescue Mission said. 'The Garden will provide a safe and supportive environment for women and children to rebuild their lives and become contributing members of society,' said John Luckett, president and CEO of the Rescue Mission. 'This is an opportunity to offer not just shelter, but stability, resources and the support needed to progress through our New Life Plan and build a new future with confidence and purpose.' The New Life Plan is a six-step plan that begins with clients living at the Rescue Mission for 4-6 months through phases 1-4. In phase 5, clients move into non subsidized apartments for months 6-12. Phase 6 culminates in homeownership through Habitat For Humanity and similar organizations. According to the new releases, homelessness in Wake County increases by 8% each year and 70% of people seeking services are experiencing situational homelessness, which means they have been displaced by sudden, life-altering events. 'This is an exciting partnership that reflects Knightdale's commitment to community and compassion,' said Knightdale Mayor Jessica Day. 'The project supports families and meets a growing need in our region.' The Garden will offer long-term transitional housing for 300 to 400 people. It will also free up space to increase capacity to serve men by 150% at the Rescue Mission's downtown facility, the organization said. The campus is being built within a new Lennar single-family home community. 'At Lennar, we believe in building with purpose and integrity, and The Garden is a powerful example of these values in action,' said Robert Smart, Lennar Raleigh division president.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local Business Leader Lin Honeycutt Calls for Stronger Community Investment in Seasonal Events and Small Farms in Raleigh
Owner of Fieldstream Farm and The Holiday Light Store urges residents and leaders to support locally-run experiences and agricultural spaces that bring people together and strengthen local identity RALEIGH, NC / / May 19, 2025 / Raleigh native and longtime entrepreneur Lin Honeycutt is calling for greater community awareness and support for seasonal family events and small-scale farms, which he believes are essential to preserving local culture, stimulating the economy, and giving families meaningful ways to connect. "As someone who's lived and worked in Raleigh my whole life, I've seen how much our community values shared experiences," said Honeycutt, owner of Fieldstream Farm and The Holiday Light Store. "But we're losing a lot of those spaces because we're not thinking long-term about what they give us-not just economically, but socially." According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina has lost more than 1 million acres of farmland since 1997. At the same time, cities like Raleigh are growing rapidly-with Wake County gaining roughly 62 people per day according to 2023 census estimates. "Everyone loves the new restaurants and tech hubs, but we also need places where families can park, walk, look at lights, and just be together," said Honeycutt, referencing the popularity of his annual Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Show, which draws thousands of cars each year to its 2 million+ light display. Beyond entertainment, Lin emphasizes the importance of preserving local agriculture. His farm grows hay, tobacco, and raises chickens-and hosts over 50 community events annually, from weddings to celebrations of life. "These types of businesses are more than just income-they're anchors," Honeycutt said. "They keep land open, they create jobs, and they offer people space to breathe. But they need consistent support to stay afloat." He's encouraging residents to: Support locally-owned seasonal events and venues, not just large commercial options. Buy from local farms and vendors, especially those that produce in Wake County. Speak up at city planning meetings when rezoning proposals threaten green space or agricultural land. Start their own backyard gardens, seasonal traditions, or community events. "You don't have to own a farm to protect what makes Raleigh special," Honeycutt added. "You just have to show up. Go to a farm. Bring your kids to a light show. Buy eggs down the road instead of the big box store. That's how we build something lasting." For Honeycutt, the ask isn't about himself-it's about ensuring the next generation has the same kinds of community-rooted experiences he's spent decades trying to protect. "If we lose our local spaces, we lose part of who we are," he said. "This is about holding on to the good things we already have, and making sure they're still around tomorrow." Media Contact Lin Honeycuttinfo@ SOURCE: Lin Honeycutt View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As a recession looms, GOP lawmakers need to prepare NC. They're not.
Before he presented the Wake County budget on May 5, County Manager David Ellis weighed various national and state economic indicators, plus one he picked up at his barber shop. 'I listen to folks there,' he said. 'One was a car salesman who lost his job because they weren't selling any cars.' That salesman's misfortune fits with what Ellis and others see coming for the economy and the nation, a serious slowdown and a possible recession. Ellis had planned to draw a budget based on 3% growth in sales tax revenue. He dialed that back to zero. He wanted to propose a 5% raise for top employees. He capped that at 3.5%. 'During COVID, we had to adjust on a daily basis and that's something we're going to have to continue to do,' he said. Around the state and the nation, public officials are girding for a downturn that could become a crisis. Trump's tariff hikes are likely to slow the economy and extending his 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy could require major reductions in federal aid for food stamps, Medicaid and a host of other programs. But North Carolina legislative leaders are not among those preparing for the worst, despite the state being especially vulnerable. Years of tax cuts have hollowed state agency budgets. The vacancy rate among state employees is more than 20 percent. If a recession hits, the state will have little room to cut expenses, even as it copes with lower tax revenue and less federal funding. Unemployment benefits, capped at a paltry $350 a week, won't be enough to sustain workers who are laid off or buffer local economies. Alexandra Sirota, director of the nonprofit N.C. Budget & Tax Center, said she can't account for all of state history, but compared to recent decades, 'We are certainly the most under-prepared we've been for a recession.' Despite the darkening economic forecast, the state Senate's proposed budget calls for accelerating tax cuts that would largely benefit wealthy individuals and large corporations and more spending on private school vouchers. 'The Senate plan is completely unacceptable,' Sirota said. ' It is not a serious proposal for the moment our state is in.' The state House's budget proposal is expected to be released soon. Gov. Josh Stein's proposed budget, which will have little sway in the GOP-controlled legislature, rightly calls for a freeze on tax cuts and voucher spending and an increase in unemployment benefits to a $470 weekly maximum, but the governor should be sounding a louder alarm about the trouble that looms. The Urban Institute's latest tracking of state tax collections found that for median state tax revenues have declined compared to last year — and that's before Trump's tariffs have taken their effect. 'Recent federal policy actions and subsequent economic developments are poised to impact state tax revenues significantly,' the Institute's report said. Between a tariff-related economic slowdown and federal cuts to make way for an extension of the 2017 tax cuts that will cost $4.5 trillion over the next decade, states are likely to face overwhelming revenue losses with huge consequences. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities ranked North Carolina 20th nationally in terms of federal funds as a percentage of state expenditures – 38 percent, or $34.5 billion in fiscal year 2024. If Congress cuts a significant share of that funding, all states will be in trouble. If North Carolina goes ahead with tax cuts, it will only compound the problem. The response, inevitably, will be to further reduce or eliminate critical services. A more humane response would be for the legislature to freeze scheduled tax cuts and impose an income tax of up to the state cap of 7 percent on very wealthy earners. That would claw back some of the savings they will get from an extension of the federal tax cuts. The NC Budget & Tax Center estimates that the state's top 1% of earners will save $1.8 billion in 2026 under the extension. Tax hikes, of course, are not happening under this General Assembly. Republican lawmakers have cut taxes repeatedly at the expense of schools and services since 2013. But now that the jig is up, the state has no slack and those who brought us to this vulnerable point seem to have no plan for the trouble ahead. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@
