Agenda 11-14-23; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 1 Tremaine Royster, pastor of Jones Grove Missionary Baptist Church, thanked the Board 2 for taking the time to remember this school. He shared how important the Ridge Road School is 3 as a representation of the community's legacy. 4 Peter Sandbeck discussed the work of Representative Renee Price through Free Spirit 5 Freedom. 6 Vice-Chair McKee asked if there are any plans to further restore the building. 7 Peter Sandbeck said yes, and designation on the National Register of Historic Places will 8 allow the opportunity to seek funding sources. He said he will keep the Board updated on the 9 progress. 10 Vice-Chair McKee said he will likely bring forward a petition to provide county funding 11 toward this effort. 12 13 PUBLIC COMMENTS: 14 Louis Watkins said he was born and raised in Hillsborough on the same road as the 15 school. He said he went to Ridge Road School starting in 1942 with 4 of his 9 siblings and really 16 enjoyed going there. He said he went as far as the fourth grade. He shared memories of his time 17 at school and walking 2.5 miles there each day. 18 Representative Renee Price said she first learned of the school over 10 years ago and 19 she and Jackie Liggins went throughout the county to document the schools that were built for 20 African American children during the era of segregation. She said there are 29 of these schools 21 in Orange County. She explained the steps and conversations leading to her learning the name 22 of Ridge Road School. She said she had a conversation with Melvin Beasley and he has similar 23 stories to Mr. Watkins about bringing wood to burn for warmth, carrying water from the well, and 24 using text books passed down from the white schools. She said Mr. Beasley was very humble 25 and was the first African American to serve on the Orange County Board of Elections. She said 26 this school stands as a testament to the determination of the students, parents, and the 27 community to ensure a good education for everyone and recognizing that knowledge and 28 education is a pathway to freedom. She said most other school buildings like this have fallen into 29 disrepair or were converted to a residence or storage, but Ridge Road is the one in the best 30 shape. She said saving this building will serve as an example and will continue to tell the full story 31 of Orange County. She asked the Board to support the recommendation. 32 33 Commissioner Greene thanked everyone for their work on this. She said she drove by the 34 school today and the pictures are great, but walking around the school is even better. She said it 35 is sad this is the best-preserved building because it is frankly not in great shape and is glad to 36 hear that the designation will help with fundraising for restoration. She said this recommendation 37 is very comprehensive and appreciates the detailing of the deep history of school systems in 38 Orange County. She said she very much supports this application. 39 Commissioner Hamilton said there are many difficult decisions to make as a county 40 commissioner, but this one is easy. She thanked everyone involved for their efforts in bringing 41 this forward. She said her grandparents were teachers and ministers in rural Georgia and 42 imagines her grandmother may have taught in a school like this. She said it is important history. 43 Vice-Chair McKee said he remembers a similar school in Caldwell when he was growing 44 up and is now, sadly, only the stones of the foundation. 45 Commissioner Richards said she finds this especially important today as so many people 46 are trying not to acknowledge our history. She said it is important to save places that are tangible 47 and to have memory of our history. She said it is urgent to save it while it's still able to be saved, 48 and hopefully will be able to use the school as a teaching tool about the county's true history. She 49 said her mother attended a one-room schoolhouse in rural Mississippi in the 1920s and expressed 50 again the importance of preserving Ridge Road School.