Visitors wore shocked expressions as Wrightsville Beach Elementary School principal MaryPaul Beall led a tour through cramped classrooms and staff support spaces in the school’s main building to a cluster of tan trailers behind the school, connected by a maze of metal ramps.
“This is it?” said Margaret Robison, Cape Fear Community College vice president for institutional advancement, as she looked around the school library, where four staff members have desks tucked behind bookshelves and crammed into corners.
The mood lightened at the next stop: the school dock, where third-graders crabbed, shrimped and fished with Cissie Brooks, coordinator of the school’s marine science program.
Four blue crabs jostled in one of the tanks set up on the dock. Third-grader Neale McIntyre pointed to markings on the crabs’ underbellies to explain how she learned to determine the gender of a crab.
“That one is a girl because it has a little apron,” McIntyre said. She pointed to another one clambering on top of the female. “That one is a boy because it has a rocket ship.”
A ruler in hand, Brooks asked for the biggest male crab caught that day. Students collect and record data on catches to integrate math and science education into the marine biology program, which traditionally boosts end-of-grade test scores in science for fourth- and fifth-graders.
Wrightsville Beach School opened its doors to community leaders for the Oct. 9 Walk in My Shoes program, organized by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and New Hanover County Schools. Schools participating in the program were selected to reflect the needs behind the $160 million school bond referendum in November, but principals were encouraged to share the school’s successes as well.
Beall said she wanted visitors to see the reality of her school, both good and bad.
“All schools are different and they all have different needs, especially this school because people think we don’t really need anything here,” Beall said. “We need space. We’re very lucky that everyone works well together. People get along and the kids are well-behaved.”
George Rountree, a Wilmington attorney who lives in Wrightsville Beach, attributed the school’s ability to succeed despite its shabby facilities to support students receive at home.
“What this school reflects is an excellent result from inadequate physical facilities with tremendous parental support … but that doesn’t prevail among most other schools in the county,” Rountree said.
Knowing most of the school’s students come from wealthier families, Robison said she assumed the school is nicer than other county schools.
“I came in and I was quite surprised. I think there’s a perception in our community because of the make-up of the students here at Wrightsville Beach School, that it would have nicer facilities. But it doesn’t,” Robison said.
While school programs are financially supported by an active PTA and a foundation, Robison said it is the county’s responsibility to maintain the building.
“They have great parental support, and I think that is phenomenal, but it’s not the responsibility of the parents to provide a decent facility for these children,” Robison said.
Robison said she already knew she would support the school bond at the polls in November, but the tour gave her a better perspective on school needs.
Phillip Crumpler, from University of Mount Olive’s Wilmington campus, and Jeremy Dickinson, from First Citizens Bank, also toured the school.
Ten county schools participated in the program.
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