Phyliss Boatwright 
The Bethel Hill Charter School Wildcats participate in the Roxboro Christmas Parade. Courtesy of Bethel Hill Charter School
Twenty-five years ago, a group of people committed to education in their community conceived of and founded the first public charter school in Person County. In 1999, Bethel Hill Elementary School was closed by Person County Schools. In the fall of 2000, following over a year of planning, Bethel Hill Charter School (BHCS) was born and began serving elementary-age students in a building that had held a school in one form or another for over 100 years.
When that group of local volunteers began working to make it a charter school, long-time Bethel Hill principal John Betterton agreed to stay on as the lead administrator. Along with Betterton, a board of directors, led by Bethel Hill resident Joe Berryhill, wrote the charter and took it to Raleigh for approval. The group then began the task of making Bethel Hill a “conversion school,” or one that is converted from traditional to charter. “We closed as a traditional school one day,” said Berryhill, “and opened as a charter school the next.” He added that conversion is no longer allowed by the state Department of Public Instruction
Recently, Berryhill explained that charter schools receive funding from the state via a per pupil allotment. There is a misconception that charter schools are private. Berryhill emphasized that they are not, and that charter schools can not and do not charge tuition. Although they are state-supported, charter schools do not receive the same funding as traditional public schools. They do not receive funds for nutrition or transportation programs. Nor do they receive capital funding from tax dollars. This means that charter schools must pay for their buildings, furnishings, equipment, technology, and maintenance. Many charter schools do not offer transportation, but BHCS has run buses for over 20 years that cover the greater part of Person County. It also offers a fully operational child nutrition program as part of the National School Lunch Program, serving a full breakfast and lunch each day.
Although they do have more flexibility in curriculum and programming, charter schools must prepare students to successfully pass state-mandated testing. “We are held to the same standards and accountability” as traditional public schools, Berryhill said, even though charters do not receive the same funding. The mission of BHCS is “to lay the foundation for individual excellence.” Its vision is to “work in partnership with staff, families, and community to promote high standards for academics and character … accomplished in a safe, positive, multicultural environment.”
BHCS Principal Jessica Poole said, “We are a public school of choice in North Carolina. Any family who resides in [the state] has the option to apply for admission in grades K through five.” She added that she is “thrilled” that parents think Bethel Hill is the best choice for their children.
Poole said having a bit more flexibility than traditional public schools allows the teachers at BHCS to innovate in the classroom. “We can make instructional decisions that fit the needs of our students.” Written in the original charter, BHCS is a Core Knowledge school. The Core Knowledge curriculum is a framework for schooling that focuses on building a strong foundation of knowledge for students. It is designed to help children develop literacy and critical thinking skills, and to encourage steady academic growth year after year. It covers a range of areas, including language arts, history, geography, visual arts, music, mathematics, and science.
And, as an administrator, Poole likes having the ability to better support her staff. For instance, she said, instead of having to run requests through a central office, she is able to respond directly to staff and “get needs in teachers’ hands” so that they can better serve their students. “We can make decisions that are best for our students which ultimately allows us to enhance student learning and achievement,” she added.
Bethel Hill Charter School is currently working on its third 10-year renewal, a two-year review process by the state.
For the 2024-2025 school year, BHCS will incorporate the Science of Reading into its Core Knowledge language arts curriculum.
Also in the upcoming school year, BHCS is working to gain approval from the Department of Public Instruction for an approved AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted) program. In the past, it has offered Honors but not AIG.
A core tenet for BHCS is offering small class sizes. The largest class is 20:1. Kindergarten classes are 15:1. The school relies heavily on teacher assistants to ensure that all students get the one-on-one attention needed.
BHCS offers a robust choice of specials for students. Included are art, physical education, STEAM, (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) coding, and media. This allows students to learn what they excel at in areas of academics and art, according to administration.
In addition to rigorous academics, BHCS staff also focus on teaching students character education.
Each year, students at BHCS can participate in field days and project-based learning such as Colonial Days and Pirate Days.
“I’m proud of the work we do,” Poole continued, adding that, “Charter schools aren’t for every family but we want parents to do their research and know we are the best choice for their child.”
When students are admitted and begin attending BHCS, said Poole, the school then “bills” the local district for the per pupil allotment for each child. “We have to be very strategic and intentional with our funding,” she explained, since much of it must come from fundraising, grants, and low- or no-interest loans.
Through those fundraising efforts, several of the original buildings on the Bethel Hill campus have been renovated over the past two and a half decades. Two new buildings have been added, and improvements have been made to the grounds and fields. In 2011, a tornado ripped the roof off the BHCS gym. The main building also suffered heavy damage. There was water damage in other buildings. It was spring break when the tornado hit, and by the time school reopened after the holiday, students were able to return to safe surroundings, thanks to the support the school received from the community. Berryhill recalled that, when repairs began, “there were volunteers everywhere.”
The idea of volunteerism is strong in all charter schools, and Bethel Hill is no exception. Poole and Berryhill said it’s not unusual for parents and grandparents to help out with fundraising, maintenance, and other needs. When the school started an art club, for instance, 10 parents came and helped tie-dye t-shirts so students could wear them to meetings.
“We work in partnership with our families,” Poole said. “If we don’t have the support of our parents, we can’t do what we do.” She added that BHCS has an active PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) and that the community always turns out for events such as the annual spring barbecue fundraiser – the largest such event held each year. Those efforts allow the Board of Directors and administration to constantly review and ensure they are best equipping staff to serve their students.
Through fundraising, strategic planning, and constant innovation, Berryhill and Poole emphasize that “the school prides itself on serving students in a small community setting where they can enjoy learning and simply being kids.” With rich traditions and strong community support, they hope that Bethel Hill will continue to educate students in this community for another 100 years.
401 Bethel Hill School Road
Roxboro, NC 27574 (336) 599-2823
BethelHill.net
