Retired Onslow superintendent Stout begins role as interim schools chief in E-Chowan

The new interim superintendent for Edenton-Chowan Public Schools brings more than three decades of experience as an educator to the district, including nearly 12 years as a school superintendent in the Onslow and Scotland county school districts.

Rick Stout said his job for the next four months is to fill in for departing superintendent, Dr. Michael Sasscer, who left on June 21 for the principal’s job at Topsail High School in Pender County.

Stout said the job of an interim superintendent is often tricky. Too often, one steps in when a school system is in crisis, but not so in Edenton-Chowan. He said ECPS schools is well-run and he praised Sasscer for leaving him with little to do but keeping things on an even keel.

“I think Dr. Sasscer did a good job while he was here, so I think the transition will be much easier for the next person,” Stout said.

He cited the new John A. Holmes High School’s construction as one of his primary responsibilities, adding that he’s previously had experience monitoring and coordinating school construction.

Stout, who retired from the Onslow County Schools as superintendent on Jan. 1, 2019, said he was retired when he applied for the job in Edenton-Chowan and is looking forward to returning to retirement when the district hires a new, permanent superintendent. He is not an applicant for that job, he said.

Stout said he believes ECPS is making progress toward ending its state designation as “low-performing” because of low student test scores.

“I do believe they’re making some improvements, and we’re looking at that now,” he said. “I haven’t been here long enough, and we’re during the summer months. There will be some areas that we can talk about and how they can be improved. We will talk to teachers, principals, and staff.

“Obviously, it’s a challenge across the state,” he continued, referring to improving student achievement. “After they came out of COVID, there were a lot of issues that we’re still catching up on. There are a lot of expectations that I think we’ll meet in the next year.”

Like other school districts across the state, Stout said that ECPS needs help with budget and teacher pay questions. One of the thorniest issues is a disagreement with county officials over the size of the district’s “rainy day” fund balance. The county provides a significant share of Edenton-Chowan Public Schools’ operating funds and has balked at providing additional money when the district is hanging on to contingency cash.

“Every board has a different view regarding how much money they need in their fund balance and their relationship with the county,” Stout said. “I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to the county commissioners in that respect. I know our board. Members may have different opinions on that, but as a superintendent, I try to make sure our checks and balances are good here in the system and that they have enough money to pay the bills and ensure the projects are taken care of. I leave that up to the board to manage.”

Also like other school districts across North Carolina, ECPS faces a growing trend of parents opting for home or private schooling.

“I think it’s important that we sell ourselves in the sense that we have a lot of resources to provide, more so than for parents seeking home or private education,” Stout said. “We have our athletics as well, and that plays into the choice. I think we have to be better advocates and let people know what good we have been doing.”

Stout and his family, who come from Swansboro, have taken a week-day home in Chowan County. His wife, who’s from Plymouth, loves the area, and he said he enjoys being a part of the community.

“You’ve got a beautiful town here in Edenton, and I love the area,” he said.

The Edenton-Chowan Board of Education agreed last month to hire the North Carolina School Boards Association to help it recruit a new superintendent to replace Sasscer.