We are writing to clarify information included in recent articles that appeared in the Perquimans Weekly and The Daily Advance concerning the naming of the Perquimans High School track.
The misunderstanding appears to stem from the consideration of only one of the two meetings involved with the presentation and request for naming the track during the March 26, 2018, school board meeting and the meeting on April 23, 2018, when the vote was taken.
Board Policy-2310 (2) stipulates that except in cases of emergency, information received during presentations will not be acted upon at the time it is received. Therefore, at the next regularly scheduled board meeting on April 23, 2018, the school board took action and voted unanimously to name the proposed track the Captain M. Shirley Wiggins Track. The board remains committed to naming the Perquimans High School Track the Captain M. Shirley Wiggins Track once the community follows through on the fundraising commitment which stated, “Those that support this cause (track naming) realize that this cannot be done without money; so, they plan to assist through fundraisers and donations.”
This commitment was also recorded in a May 23, 2018, article in The Daily Advance entitled, “Future track to be named after Shirley Wiggins.” This article stated that a fundraising campaign would be mounted and the preliminary estimate for building a six-lane track would be about $750,000.
It is important to note that the track itself was constructed utilizing ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds. These funds were specifically allocated for urgent needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the track’s construction was limited to its basic structure as an outdoor classroom facility, and additional amenities such as buildings, fencing, lights, and field event structures were not included in the original grant plans due to ESSER guidelines.
However, $214,051.82 in local funding was utilized to augment the track construction, incorporating field events, fencing, and a soccer field into the design in order to make the track and field accessible to student athletes for organized competition.
Despite the completion of the track, additional funds are necessary to finalize the facility with essential amenities. A recent assessment of needs to complete this phase of the athletic complex revealed that lighting, an equipment storage facility, signage, additional fencing, and equipment remain to complete and enhance this phase of the Perquimans County Athletic Complex. These elements are crucial for the full operational functionality and identity of the track.
It is important to note that all athletic facilities bearing names in our school system come with significant donations from community members. In fact, some facilities have come with significant contributions and there were no requests for naming rights associated with those contributions. In recognition of this, the school board must remain respectful of all of its past, current, and future supporters.
The decision by the Perquimans County Board of Education to reduce the associated dollar amount from $200,000 to $50,000 for naming the track reflects our unwavering commitment to the naming of the track after the late Captain M. Shirley Wiggins.
The role of the Perquimans County Schools Foundation, Inc. in this project is to assist with fundraising, keep accurate records of donations, receive and acknowledge donations, and issue tax-exempt receipts. Future donations for this project may be made to The Perquimans County Schools Foundation, Inc. at P.O. Box 337, Hertford, NC 27944.
We value the community’s positive input and assistance as we work toward the completion of the track facility and the subsequent naming. The community’s engagement is crucial in shaping the future of our community’s assets, and we are committed to transparency and collaboration throughout this process.
Please know and understand that the Board of Education remains unanimously committed to naming the track “itself” after Captain M. Shirley Wiggins.
RUSSELL LASSITER
Hertford
Editor’s note: This author is chairman of the Perquimans County Board of Education. The letter also was submitted for publication by the other five members of the Perquimans school board: Arlene Yates, Kristy Corprew, Dr. Anne White, Leary Winslow and Matt Winslow.
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