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Lobbyists
Kirk resigns as chairman of State Board of
Education
Saying he simply was tired after
working 16- and 18-hour days for the past five years, NCCBI President Phil Kirk
resigned Thursday as chairman of the State Board of Education, effective May 1.
Kirk, who will continue as head of NCCBI, had held the volunteer post since
being appointed to the position by Gov. Jim Hunt in 1997 and had led the state
board for the second-longest period in state history. Gov. Mike Easley is
expected to name a replacement soon.
”The past five-and-one-half
years have been exhilarating, challenging, and most enjoyable,” Kirk said in a
statement. “Our public schools are leading the nation in progress and North
Carolina has won much-deserved national recognition by so many groups and in so
many different areas. I researched Yogi Berra's philosophy to try to find a
statement which best summarized my reasons for resigning at this critical
juncture in our state's history. I found none so I went to my next favorite
philosopher — Lefty Driesell. When he retired as a college basketball coach a
couple of months ago, he said he was doing so because he was tired. Well, after
working 16-18 hour days, seven days a week for five-and-one-half years, I am
just tired.”
Gov. Easley said “Phil Kirk has been an outstanding chair keeping North
Carolina in the unique position of linking business closely with education and
workforce training. His resignation will leave a huge void. He has set the bar
high with his endless commitment and boundless energy by visiting more than 750
schools across the state. I am very grateful to him for his service.”
Kirk said he was proud the State Board of Education had accomplished many goals
during his tenure as chairman. “We can document substantial progress in every
grade since the ABCs began. Our students are clearly learning more in math,
reading, writing, computer technology, and other subjects. Our dropout rate has
fallen three years in a row. Our SAT scores are improving faster than any other
state. We are supporting our teachers more with salaries, for example, going
from 43rd in the nation to 21st. We have implemented a mentoring program for
beginning teachers, salary increases for those with enhanced master's degrees
and national board certification with our state ranking first in the nation in
the number of teachers meeting this rigorous standard. We have been ranked first
in the nation in improving teacher quality two of the past three years.”
And he said he was proud to have accomplished some personal goals, including
visiting all 117 school systems in the state at least once. Kirk personally
visited more than 750 individual schools. ”I am most grateful to North
Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry -- our remarkable staff and
volunteers -- for allowing me to serve on the State Board of Education,” Kirk
said. “However, keeping NCCBI growing, successful, and effective needs my full
attention and energy. This will be a most difficult and challenging session in
the General Assembly and U.S. Congress. I need to be focused on meeting the
needs of our members at NCCBI.”
He said he
would remain committed to education in several capacities, including chairing
the Workforce Development and Education committee of the North Carolina Economic
Development Board.
Former Gov. Jim Hunt, who appointed Kirk to the board, said, "Phil
Kirk has done a superb job as Chairman of the State Board of Education. He has
made an historic contribution in pushing for high academic standards in North
Carolina schools and under his leadership, our test scores reflecting student
learning have gone up more than in any other state. His tenure also has seen the
standards for public school teachers raised and salaries have advanced from 43rd
to 21st in the nation. I am deeply grateful for his leadership and urge his
continued strong involvement in improving education and the economy in North
Carolina."
State Superintendent Mike Ward said that Kirk has been a hard-working and
successful leader for public schools. "While it is tough to see Phil leave
this role, we're proud of his legacy as state board chair and confident that he
will continue to be a strong advocate for our students."
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