Legislators representing Pitt County in the N.C. General Assembly told school board members Monday not to ask for changes to the board’s size or term lengths this year.

N.C. Rep. Marian McLawhorn said that during the 2010 short session, resolutions without unanimous approval from the board as well as from the five delegates representing Pitt County will not be considered.

Board newcomer Jennifer Little has advocated for the changes, proposing a reduction from 12 to seven or nine members and shortening term lengths from six years to four. The school board is the largest in the state and the alterations would create more effective and accountable governance that would produce $6,000 in annual savings, she said.

Little also advocates a shorter time period between when board members are elected and when they take office. The nonpartisan races are held in May but newcomers aren’t sworn in until December.

A discussion last fall indicated majority but not unanimous support for the changes. Three board members expressed their opposition to the proposals Tuesday.

“We need to slow down,” Michael Dixon said.

Mary Williams expressed her desire to work each year of the six she was elected to serve and worried aloud about the lack of diversity that already exists on the board with three African-American members and no Latinos.

“None of these things have hindered this board from making any decisions we need to make,” Ralph Love said. “I don’t think any of these issues have anything to do with the education of our children.”

McLawhorn said the board should continue their deliberations and have a resolution prepared for the long session beginning in January 2011, when more controversial measures can be considered.

“This is the way it is right now,” she told Little. “It’s not that we disagree with you or don’t want to do it.”

Sen. Clark Jenkins suggested taking the issues to Pitt County residents for their input. Dixon agreed and board chair Mary Grace Bright said it would be a good topic for inclusion in this year’s public forums.

Rep. Edith Warren said it would be important to consider motivations for the changes and historical reasons behind the board’s current makeup — including the merger of Pitt County and Greenville City Schools.

Also during the meeting, Superintendent Beverly Reep and Financial Services Director Michael Cowin presented legislative priorities to the delegates. Those included continuing current levels of support of low wealth supplemental funding and changing school calendar legislation to allow flexibility in how early the school year can start.

Several board members said parents are upset that mid-year exams must be taken after the winter holiday due to the Aug. 25 start date.

“It’s like coaching them up to a point and then saying, ‘In a week now we’re going to play a game,” Roy Peaden said.

Williams noted that it’s detrimental to high school students applying to college or for scholarships because they can’t accurately determine their grade point average (GPA) in a timely manner.

Warren expressed her support for calendar flexibility by county, while McLawhorn said she opposes starting any more than a day or two earlier.

Officials also asked that legislators identify revenue sources to fund the N.C. Virtual Public Schools, Dual Enrollment and Learn and Earn Online programs. Board member Jill Camnitz said each program is essential to reducing the dropout rate.

Cowin said schools also need additional funding for support staff currently covered by stimulus funds that will expire in 2011.

Jenkins, a chair on the state Senate finance committee, warned that more budget cuts are coming but flexibility in how Pitt County Schools can spend allotted funds should remain in place. He said the staff can expect budget estimates by May.

“You all need to plan very conservatively and try to get through this year,” McLawhorn said.

Sen. Don Davis and Rep. Arthur Williams also attended the meeting.

Contact Kathryn Kennedy at kkennedy@reflector.com or (252) 329-9566.