The Edgecombe-Nash Retired School Personnel met 10:30 a.m. Sept. 11, at Braswell Memorial Library. President Mary Williams welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year, and the Rev. Raymond Privott asked members to remember the ground zero 9-11 victims in prayer.

Vice President Evelyn Johnson presented speakers John Farrelly, superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools (former Washington County School Superintendent), and Dr. Anthony D. Jackson, superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools.

The Edgecombe County Public Schools superintendent said, “I am thrilled to be working with our retired teachers’ association as our community rallies together to support public education in both Edgecombe County and Nash Rocky Mount.

“We are facing many challenges in rolling out a new curriculum this year and welcome our retired teachers into our schools to support student achievement and learning.”

Evelyn Wilson, vice chairman of the Edgecombe County Board of Education, was introduced.

She said, “Edgecombe County Public Schools’ new vision statement is: ‘Focused, Connected, and Ready.’”

Their mission statement is: “The Edgecombe County Public School’s community will collaborate to graduate all students ready to achieve, succeed in a rapidly changing world. Farrelly assisted the Edgecombe County Board of Education in working with the administrative staff, community and students to get the new mission statement in place.”

Jackson’s key point for Nash-Rocky Mount’s school district is to implement common core curriculum this fall. Both school districts have the same comparable numbers when it comes to low social-economic students. Scholarship Committee Chairman Jessie Jones reported the Edgecombe-Nash Retired School Personnel Scholarship will be awarded to a Nash Community College student this year.

Raymond Privott, legislative chairman, reported:

• This year retirees received a 1 percent raise. Although the constitution requires retirees to receive raises equal to the cost-of-living raise, we have not received one in the last couple years because of the present economy.
• There are 11,500 members in the North Carolina Retired School Personnel now, but which will need to work on increasing membership.
• Supplemental Insurance open enrollment is between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31. Members can take out a supplement for a new accidental policy.
• If a retiree goes back to work after retiring, he needs to be careful with the earning cap. You can earn up to 50 percent of what your salary was at retirement, however $1 over that and your check will be cut.
• Your pension will be taken away. Keep up with your own things because they will not do it for you.
• On Line Retirement Benefits through Integrated Technology allows to safely and securely access personal retirement account information, and conduct secure transactions online 24 hours a day. The telephone number for On Line Retirement Benefits through Integrated Technology is 1-877-733-4191 (toll free).
• The deductibles and co-pays of the state health plan changed this year. Those who have Medicare and the 80/20 state plan changed from paying $10 monthly to $10.82. There is no change with Medicare and the 70/30 plan.

President Williams recognized new members present which included Irma Boulden, Suzanne Downs and Trish Maxwell. President Williams’ husband, Jonah Williams, was welcomed.

President Williams reported the District 12 meeting will be Oct. 15 at the Gateway Center in Rocky Mount.

Registration is 9:30-10 a.m. Warren County will hold a buffet luncheon. The cost is $20.

Laurette Lewis, Membership chairwoman, reported courts have not yet passed a ruling on the lawsuit between the N.C. General Assembly and the N.C. Association of Educators about dues deductions.

Birthdays for July, August, and September were recognized. Evelyn Wilson won the birthday gift card drawing.

Dorethea Walston, community participation Chairperson, reminded members to keep a record of their community participation hours each month.