RALEIGH: The gavel was passed to a new leader of the State Board of Community Colleges today. The board elected James J. Woody of Roxboro the new State Board Chair, succeeding Dr. G. Herman Porter of Goldsboro. His term of office is two years. The 21-member board is the policy-making arm of the North Carolina Community College System.

Woody has served on the State Board since 1989. He is the Safety Environment Manager for Chandler Concrete Company, Inc. in Burlington and a former member of the Person County Board of Education. A native of Roxboro, Mr. Woody attended Mars Hill College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. He has served as State Board Finance and Capital Needs Committee Chair. His term expires on June 30, 2005.

In his acceptance speech, Woody congratulated his predecessor for his leadership, particularly in helping to achieve passage of the Higher Education Facilities Bond referendum. Woody said he looks forward to a great two years working with a "tremendous" State Board. "This is your Board, not mine," he told the members. He then challenged them to elevate their perception and visibility among the General Assembly. "It is all of our responsibility to make visits [to legislators] at home and across the street."

Hilda Pinnix-Ragland of Cary was elected the new Vice-Chair. Pinnix-Ragland is the Vice President of Economic Development for Progress Energy, the parent company for CP&L. She has served on the State Board since 2000. After accepting what she called the "honor and privilege" of serving as Vice Chair, she said she would work to move the State Board into an "enhanced direction." She presented a $45,000 check from Progress Energy that will fund scholarships at Wake Technical, Fayetteville Technical and Cape Fear Community Colleges.

Six new members were administered the oath today and one veteran member began her second term.

The new State Board members are The Hon. W.W. "Dub" Dickson, a retired veterinarian and former State Representative from Gastonia; Dr. Stuart N. Fountain, a retired dentist from Greensboro; Norma Bulluck Turnage, a restaurant executive and former State Board of Education member from Rocky Mount; G. Gordon "Buddy" Greenwood, President and CEO of the Bank of Asheville; Thomas "Tommy" Norman, President of NORCOM Development, Inc in Charlotte; and Sharon Wright-Watson, a Nursing student at Piedmont Community College, the Student Representative to the State Board. Sandra Hayes, a print production consultant from Waynesville, continues her service on the State Board.

The State Board approved a new tuition and fee waiver process for persons participating in the Human Resources Development Program. New HRD courses were also approved to be added to the Continuing Education Master Course List. This change is part of a major reorganization necessitated by drastic cuts in the HRD budget. The HRD Program provides training, counseling and job placement assistance for unemployed and underemployed adults in North Carolina.

The Board also approved the following construction projects and property acquisition:

South Piedmont Community College – Amend Project No. 916 – Polkton Campus Parking Lots. Total cost is $53,457, composed of $26,728 local funds and $26,729 state funds (code 49377). Project is amended to transfer state and local funds to project number 982.

South Piedmont Community College – Amend Project No. 932 – Continuing Education Center-Wadesboro. Total cost is $1,691,765, composed of $524,265 local funds, $799,882 state funds (code 49377), $67,618 state funds (code 49577) and $300,000 state funds (code 40070-4101800N&O). Project is amended to add 2000 state bond funds for an increase in project cost. The 2000 state bond funds shown in this project will be disbursed only in accordance with the cash flow model.

South Piedmont Community College – Amend Project No. 982 – East Campus Learning Resource Center. Total cost is $1,417,483, composed of $11,712 local funds, $10,771 state funds (code 49377) and $1,395,000 state funds (code 49820). Project is amended to add state and local funds from project number 916 for an increase in project cost.

Surry Community College – Amend Project No. 1186 – Parking Lot for "H" Building. Total cost is $183,763, composed of $91,880 local funds and $91,883 state funds (code 40070-4101884S). Project is amended to increase state and local funds for an increase in project cost. The 2000 state bond funds shown in this project will be disbursed only in accordance with the cash flow model.

Acquisition and Disposal of Real Property

The Board of Trustees of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College requests permission as per G.S. 115D-20 to acquire, by donation, 0.80 acre of land contiguous to the main campus on the southeast side. This property will be used to provide additional parking for the new computer technology building.

-NCCCS-

Back to previous page.