Local News

Cumberland County Schools: 10 things parents should know about sending kids back-to-school

Details

Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Written by Dr. Shanessa Fenner

The end of summer is in sight as school begins Monday, Aug. 25 for traditional students in the Cumberland County School System. The back-to-school season is filled with expectation, excitement and stress for kids and parents. From the school bus to the new attendance policy, here is what parents need to know:
1. CCS’ New Attendance Policy- It is imperative for each student to show up to school each day on time. The updated policy clarifies attendance expectations, outlines documentation procedures and reinforces the importance of being present every day to support student success.
2. School Bus Safety- Only authorized school personnel and students are allowed on the school bus. Unauthorized individuals may face criminal charges for trespassing or impeding the operation of a school bus.
3. Family Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities- CCS remains committed to partnerships with families and community members through expanded volunteer pathways and school-based engagement efforts.
4. Alongside Mental Health App- Middle and high school students will continue to have access to mental health wellness resources and self-guided support.
5. Infinite Campus (Student Information System)- Infinite Campus is a user-friendly platform to monitor attendance, grades and more.
6. Safety & Security- CCS continues its commitment to safe learning environments with Weapons Detection Systems in place, Raptor Security, Say Something Anonymous Reporting System and more.
7. Language Support Line- Non-English-speaking families can receive multilingual assistance through a dedicated support line designed to make communication easier.
8. Student Code of Conduct- Each student is given a student code of conduct that outlines CCS’ behaviors and consequences. The student should read and discuss the code of conduct with their parents.
9. Cell phone policy update- This new policy indicates that students are not allowed to display, use, turn on or make visible any personal devices (phones, earbuds, smartwatches, etc.) during instructional time. Devices must be turned off, put away out of sight and not easily accessible (kept in backpack or locker). Elementary students are not allowed to use their devices all day during bell-to-bell instruction. Use is only allowed when authorized by an Individualized Education Program, 504 plan, health plan, approved in advance for assistive, safety or translation needs or authorized by school staff for emergencies.
Middle and high school students can use their devices during their lunch periods, between class transitions, or with prior teacher approval for instructional purposes. Device usage is permitted on the buses before and after school. However, bus or school staff may restrict use if it creates safety concerns. Audio must be played with earbuds or headphones at a reasonable volume.
10. New clear bag policy- Beginning Friday, Aug. 22, CCS has implemented districtwide clear bag procedures for athletic events. Each person may bring one clear bag no larger than 12 by 15 by 3 inches. Small clutches, one-gallon Ziploc bags, diaper bags and medical bags will be allowed. Coats, blankets and strollers are allowed as long as storage compartments are left open and empty.
For the back-to-school guide visit www.ccs.k12.nc.us/btsg. For more information visit www.ccs.k12.nc.us.

Government Watch: County elects new sheriff; City Council votes on rezoning request

Details

Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Written by Jami McLaughlin

Cumberland County
There’s a new sheriff in town! On Aug. 11, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners appointed Major Johnathan Morgan as Sheriff to complete the unexpired term of Sheriff Ennis Wright. Wright retired on June 30 after serving since 2017. Morgan will serve through December 2026.
He was one of nine candidates who submitted applications for the appointment. The majority spoke at the meeting, each declaring their qualifications and desire for the post. The other candidates included Joseph Bailer, James Barnes, James Black, former City of Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden, Brian Delrosario, Terry Ray, Ronald Starling and LaRue Windham.
Cumberland County Commissioner Chair Kirk deViere released a statement, which included the following: “Our primary goal throughout this process has been to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations within the Sheriff's Office. The Board of Commissioners collectively felt that Major Morgan's experience and understanding of current operations and procedures make him uniquely positioned to maintain the high standards of public safety our citizens expect and deserve.”
He also thanked all of the candidates for their commitment to public service.
The board opened the application process on July 15 with an Aug. 4 deadline. Requirements for the position included being at least 21 years old and having voted in Cumberland County without prior felony convictions.
At their Aug. 14 meeting, the County announced a North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management Grant for $500,000 for Rhodes Pond Improvement and Renovation Project. The project includes enhancing the park by improving the parking area and trail, as well as renovating the restroom facilities, to support overall park operations and improve visitor experience. Rhodes Mill Pond is adjacent to state game land where people can hunt deer, raccoons and ducks.
Another topic of discussion was an emergency management overview of the County’s flood monitoring network and public alerting capabilities in light of recent flooding events in Texas and North Carolina. Both events have “underscored the urgent need for reliable, real-time data to support decision-making around high-water events,” according to Garry Crumpler, the interim emergency services director.
The board also pulled the Request for Qualifications/Proposals for modernization and renovation of the Crown Theatre and Arena and the County Courthouse Parking Lot for future use by their September Infrastructure Committee for more discussion.

City of Fayetteville
On Aug. 11, the Fayetteville City Council voted to pull a rezoning request at the intersection of McArthur Road and Stacy Weaver Drive for a public hearing on Aug. 25. The request was for a new 7-11 convenience store with fuel sales. The request was for consent to approve based on the Zoning Commission and Professional Planning staff recommendation. Reasoning included that the property aligned with the Future Land Use Plan and the Unified Development Ordinance, that the permitted uses and development standards for the district are appropriate for the site, given surrounding zoning and land uses, and there are no anticipated negative impacts to public health, safety, morals or general welfare.
Some concerns from residents included an increase in traffic and safety issues. According to city records, the property has had commercial activity since 1995. The intersection also has a public library, a grocery store and a Circle K convenience store.
In other news, the Fayetteville Regional Airport hosted 27 local students from grades 7 through 12 to learn about careers in the aviation industry during the Aviation Career Education Academy. The two-day immersive program included interactive workshops, aircraft demonstrations and presentations from the Civil Air Patrol, NASA and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

About the Greater Fayetteville Chamber
Advocacy is a cornerstone of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Every week, the Chamber dedicates staff to attend City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County meetings, as well as monitoring updates on the state and federal levels. We monitor legislation locally, statewide and federally to protect our community’s business interests.
With 91% of U.S. adults recognizing a Chamber of Commerce's impact on growth, membership ensures a strong voice shaping policies, driving economic success, and building a thriving business community—together. To learn more, visit www.faybiz.com or email jmclaughlin@faybiz.com.

(Photo: Cumberland County Commissioner Chair Kirk deViere, left, Commissioner Henry Tyson, new Cumberland County Sheriff Johnathan Morgan, and Commissioner Pavan Patel pose for a photo at Sheriff Morgan's swearing in ceremony. Photo courtesy of Cumberland County NC, Government's Facebook page)

FTCC announces study abroad program: A new frontier

Details

Tuesday, 12 August 2025

Written by Krissy Smith & Kerri Donohue

“Study abroad” is a term most would associate with universities; however, that is not always the case. There are a number of North Carolina Community Colleges that offer study abroad programs, and FTCC is soon going to join those ranks.
There are many benefits to study abroad for students. For some, studying abroad may provide the first opportunity for international travel and exposure to diverse cultures, which can foster personal and professional growth. Academically, studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to observe course objectives in different settings, thereby enriching one's understanding of those topics.
We are currently in the process of developing a faculty-led STEM study abroad program. In June 2023, FTCC was awarded a grant from the IDEAS Program of the U.S. Department of State that provided funds to scout three field research stations in two countries. In June of 2024, we traveled to the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, where we participated in a workshop that explored hands-on activities and research opportunities available for students.
This involved snorkeling to identify coral and fish, microplastic sampling from a nearby beach, assisting with a plankton tow, and experiencing various cultural activities.
In July of 2024, we traveled to Belize with our first stop being the Belize Zoo Tropical Education Center in central Belize. Here, we were able to participate in birding and bird banding, have a behind-the-scenes, day-and-night tour of the Belize Zoo, visit the Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, and visit Xunantunich, a Mayan archeological site. The purpose of these trips was to get firsthand experience with each field station and make international connections to develop the study abroad program.
The first study abroad trip is planned for the summer of 2026 and will be associated with a section of Bio 112 General Biology II. For this first trip, students will be visiting both field stations in Belize and will get to participate in all the activities we trialed. Upon return, students will have the opportunity to present their findings in a campus-based symposium. In the summer of 2027, the goal will be for the class to visit Bermuda and then rotate between the two countries every year.
This program will offer a truly unique opportunity for students that may include a lot of firsts: visiting another country, flying, snorkeling, research, and much more. When students participate in studying abroad, they grow academically and personally and receive an experience with a lasting impression about their time at Fayetteville Technical Community College.
Are you ready to learn more about study abroad opportunities at FTCC?
Contact instructor Krissy Smith by email at smithkri@faytechcc.edu or by calling 910-678-8296.
Or reach out to instructor Kerri Donohue via email at donohuek@faytechcc.edu, or by calling 910-486-7393.

The Gordian knots of families and politics

Details

Tuesday, 12 August 2025

Written by D.G. Martin

Nobody’s going to argue when I say that our country is in a complicated place these days. You can feel it in the news, around the dinner table, even in the grocery store line. And I don’t think anyone would argue with this either: families are complicated, too. Now, mix those two things together—a complicated country and a complicated family—and it gets even trickier. Especially when the folks around the table see the country through different lenses. That’s when things get really complicated.
Are our modern day families so torn up by political differences that gathering around the kitchen island without an argument around the daily news is more and more uncommon? Is our country now so divided and passionate that we are headed towards another civil war?
I hope not on both counts.
In Measure of Devotion, a new novel by Raleigh native Nell Joslin, these complicated, age-old family dynamics play out for the Shelburne family during the Civil War in South Carolina. At first glance, this might seem to be just another Southern novel about the war.
But Joslin is not just telling a Southern story. She weaves a universal narrative that applies to us today. The Shelburnes’ saga is rooted in the past, but echoes powerfully right now.
Susannah and Jacob Shelburne live in secessionist South Carolina but are quiet abolitionists. Their servants are no longer enslaved, and the Shelburnes consider them their friends and equals. They do not press their anti-slavery beliefs on others, but subtly oppose the widespread Southern culture. Speaking out publicly would put them in danger in their community, so they push back in subtle ways.
As I was pulled deeper into the story, a question gnawed at me. Why were the Shelburnes not more outspoken? Jacob acknowledges early in the novel, “I confess that in this way I am living a lie. But I know no help for it. Though I cannot say I love my state, I do love my home and my farm…. It is a Gordian knot.” The Shelburnes struggle to parent their teenage son Francis, a Confederate sympathizer. Francis only grows more defiant and joins the Confederate army. The metaphorical Gordian knot is tightened by Susannah’s struggle to save her son after he is wounded fighting for a cause she abhors.
How does a beloved son come to embrace a culture his parents spent their life resisting? Part of the answer lies in time and place. He grows up in a world where many voices around him lift up those very values, even glorifying slavery and war. And like adolescents in every era, he’s itching to push back against his parents.
“You think I’m a child. Christ, I cannot wait to be rid of this house and everyone in it,” he tells Susannah as he prepares to war.
Sound familiar? Maybe your child didn’t use those exact words. Maybe you didn’t. But chances are, at some point, you’ve heard something close—or said something just as sharp in your own teenage years. It’s part of the long, complicated story of growing up and breaking away.
That old metaphor of the Gordian knot still holds power today. We’re living in a time when the tangles of belief, identity, and loyalty feel impossible to sort out. And it’s not just in the headlines—it’s close to home. We’re neighbors to, and sometimes parents or grandparents of, people who see the world in ways we can’t quite understand. The bonds of family and community haven’t gone away—but they’ve gotten more complicated.
If you are struggling with the news of today’s front pages, or if you are disagreeing with a loved one, pick up Measure of Devotion. Joslin, via Susannah, reminds us that these complicated struggles—between family, identity, and belief—aren’t anything new. And, spoiler alert: there are no perfect endings to these struggles.