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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

Diane Ireland sees the benefits first hand.

As a teacher at William R. Davie Elementary School, kindergarten students are becoming more and more prepared for their school careers.

Why?

Preschool programs, funded by the Mebane Foundation, are working. The foundation help set them up at every school, and has given millions of dollars and paid for training for staff members.

Next week, members of the county board of education will decide on Tuesday whether to name the new building at the old Davie High campus on US 601 South in Mocksville the Davie County Schools Mebane Education Center.

“As an elementary teacher, I have seen the benefits of those preschools,” Ireland told board members last month. “The Mebane Foundation and Mr. Mebane himself … when we met with him years ago … his desire to enrich all children in all walks of life is so empowering.”

She was a member of a naming committee that is recommending the facility previously known as “K” building be named for Mebane.

“Mebane’s commitment to improving early grades education for all children, coupled with substantial financial support throughout the years, has been instrumental in the continuous improvement of early childhood literacy in Davie County,” said Jeff Wallace, superintendent.

Mebane and his foundation, Wallace said, provided $2.5 million for the Davie LEADS program, funded the Mebane Master’s program for teachers and started pre-schools at each elementary site.

“It’s been ongoing,” Wallace said. “The investment in our community from people like that makes us all different.”

He also pointed to committee member Clyde Scott Sr., who is still involved in helping make schools better, even though he graduated from the Davie County Training School some 56 years ago.

“It takes the whole community to make us better.”

Renovations are still being made to the building that was part of the old Davie County High School and will eventually house the Virtual School personnel, administrative offices and collaborative learning and training spaces for DCS staff.

“The impact goes on and on with every student who walks through my classroom door,” said teacher, Yvette Shore. The investment quickly pays back with posititive impacts on students.

Committee members included Wallace, Dub Potts, Clay Harris, Clyde Scott Sr., Ireland, Shore and Valerie Feezor.

Renovations are expected to be complete this summer. The committee met twice before making the recommendation.