Gates Schools outlines new 7–9 football program; board sets process to fill Felton’s vacant seat

BY MILES LAYTON

SUNBURY — Gates County Schools’ Finance Officer Steven Harrell pushed back Monday night against recent criticism from county commissioners, telling the Gates County Board of Education that allegations of poor transparency in the school system’s finance department are “baseless” and unfair to his staff.

See our previous story here about the Gates Commission’s plans to call for an audit.  

Also, Gates County Schools’ Director of Student Services Jeremy Wright delivered a detailed update on the district’s plan to launch a 7–9 grade football program, outlining safety guidelines, startup costs and how the new structure would affect middle school athletics. We provided a lot of useful information to that part of our story.

The Board also announced the process for filling the vacant seat left by Ray Felton, who stepped down in November after 17 years of service to the Board and community.

And Leslie Byrum was elected as Chairman of the Board of Education with Sallie Ryan as Vice Chairman — congrats and thanks for your service.

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Let’s start with Harrell — he addressed the board before moving on from his regular financial report, responding to a call by county commissioners for an unqualified audit of the school system’s finances. He said he was troubled by public suggestions that his department was not transparent, calling the claims “recklessly irresponsible,” particularly coming from elected leaders.

“As many of you know, the county commissioners have recently called for an unqualified audit of the school system’s finance department,” Harrell said. “They’ve even suggested that my department is not fully transparent.”

Harrell defended the department’s track record, noting that since his return to Gates County, the finance office has received national recognition for excellence in financial reporting. He said the department has earned the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for three consecutive years from the Association of School Business Officials International and the Government Finance Officers Association.

“These honors reflect significant achievement in our ongoing commitment to transparency and high-quality financial reporting,” Harrell told the board.

He also emphasized that school finance is more complex than standard accounting, explaining that districts must comply with specialized state and federal requirements that don’t apply to other types of government agencies.

“It adds an additional layer of complexity,” Harrell said. “A lack of understanding of these requirements should not be used as a justification for accusations of non-transparency.”

Harrell outlined how the finance department handles public records requests, saying staff consistently strive for full disclosure while staying within legal boundaries. When necessary, the department consults with the school system’s attorney to ensure compliance.

He explained that some records can be produced quickly, while others take longer due to the need for legal review or the nature of the information requested. In some cases, he said, the law prohibits release of certain documents altogether.

“For example, personal information about former employees or an individual W-2,” Harrell said. “By statute, we cannot provide such records.”

Harrell closed his remarks by saying he hopes county commissioners better understand the seriousness with which his team approaches its responsibilities.

“My staff and I take our responsibility seriously,” he said. “We are committed each day to maintaining transparency and adhering to all state financial laws and board policies.”

Red Barons’ JV football poised for kick-off; Felton’s seat to be filled

Gates County Schools Director of Student Services Jeremy Wright delivered a detailed update on the district’s plan to launch a 7–9 grade football program, outlining safety guidelines, startup costs and how the new structure would affect middle school athletics. The presentation came as the Gates County Board of Education also announced the process for filling the vacant seat left by the late Ray Felton.

Before we get to that, let’s do this — Board members talked about how Felton’s unexpired term will be filled. Ryan said residents have been “very anxious to know what we’re going to do with our vacant position on the board,” explaining that the district wanted to make the steps clear and transparent.

The board will accept applications from interested residents who live in the same district Felton represented. Applicants are required to submit a résumé and a short written statement describing what they could contribute to the board. All materials must be submitted by Dec. 15 to the school system’s central office, either by hand delivery or by mail.

A special meeting is scheduled for Dec. 19 at 9 a.m., when applicants should be available in case the board wishes to conduct interviews or ask follow-up questions. Board members said not every applicant may be interviewed but stressed that availability on that date is important. The board also plans to post the application information on the school system’s website and place a notice in the parent section of the district’s Facebook page to broaden outreach.

After administrative business, Wright stepped forward to present an update on the long-discussed 7-9 football initiative, which would shift football for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students to the high school level and effectively eliminate traditional middle school football.

Wright conversations about the program began in 2024 — Gates County Schools approved moving forward in concept, but the plan stalled because there were not enough schools in the conference to support it.

That landscape has now changed, Wright said, with multiple northeastern North Carolina school systems ready to participate. Gates County is preparing to join a group that includes Edenton (my son will play for that JV team), Perquimans, Manteo and Camden. Bertie County is not currently committed, but Wright said he believes Bertie could eventually join. The program is scheduled to begin in the 2026–27 school year.

Wright explained that 7–9 football is not a new concept in North Carolina. He noted that western North Carolina’s Smoky Mountain Conference has used the model since the 1970s, and another western conference adopted it in 2020. As junior varsity football has declined statewide due to participation numbers, more school systems have requested similar structures.

Under the plan, football players from the seventh, eighth and ninth grades at Central Middle School would practice and play at the high school. Wright described the program as essentially creating a junior varsity team, something Gates County has not consistently been able to field due to low numbers.

“I can’t tell you the last time we fielded a JV football team,” Wright said, explaining that the absence of a JV program has limited playing time for ninth- and 10th-grade athletes in recent years.

The proposed league would likely include between five and eight teams, with potential non-conference opponents such as Northside and Pamlico expressing interest. Games would be played over an eight-week period, designed to end before basketball season begins so that multi-sport athletes can transition without overlap.

Safety and structure were central to Wright’s presentation. He emphasized that seventh- through ninth-grade players would not participate in live contact drills with varsity athletes. “They can warm up together… but they will never go live with each other,” he said.

He also addressed parental concerns about younger athletes competing with older ones. Players who participate in even a single snap of varsity football would be ineligible to return to the 7–9 team. “There’s no bouncing back and forth with this program,” Wright said, adding that the rule is consistent across participating schools.

The student-athletes in the new program would receive the same level of sports medicine support as high school players. An athletic trainer would be present, and students would complete the same North Carolina High School Athletic Association paperwork and medical protocols required of varsity athletes.

Startup costs for the program were described as modest. Wright said the primary expense will be equipment, including 37 new helmets. The middle school’s current youth helmets cannot be used at the high school level under athletic association rules. The new helmets would be painted red to match school branding. Practice jerseys and other gear will also be needed, though older game uniforms could be repurposed thanks to previous purchases by the athletic booster club.

Wright said athletic director Matt Biggy is currently gathering price quotes for the equipment. Existing shoulder pads from the middle school can be reused, reducing overall costs.

To give you a taste of what may be ahead, John A. Holmes High School Athletic Director Wes Mattera gave the following information regarding the district’s proposed Grade 7-9 football program during a recent Edenton-Chowan School Board meeting.

Their Grades 7-9 program is expected to start in the 2026-27 season, pending conference approval.

The projected start-up costs include:

• Athletic Trainer Supplies: $500
• Concussion Baseline tests: None. At the time of the meeting, ECU Health agreed to cover this expense, Mattera said.
• Reconditioning middle school helmets: $4,000
• Potential replacements (four helmets at $1,656 and seven should pads at $980): $3,000
• Workout and Game Gear: $6,900
• Total: $14,400

Several logistical questions were raised by board members. Wright confirmed that transportation will be provided to move players from the middle school to the high school for practices and games. A bus would likely be stationed at the middle school and used to shuttle students after the school day ends.

Board members also discussed the potential financial impact on the middle school. Middle school football currently generates gate and concession revenue, which helps support its athletic programs. With games moving to the high school, the district is exploring ways to ensure the middle school does not lose that funding stream. Wright said discussions are ongoing about revenue sharing or other arrangements so the middle school can continue to benefit financially without having to cover costs such as officials, chain crews and gate workers.

The coaching structure is also under review. Wright said the program would likely require additional staff at the high school level, with the possibility of repurposing existing middle school coaching positions.

Cheerleading involvement will be a local decision, but Wright said middle school cheerleaders could continue to support games in the new structure, similar to the current model.

Board members responded positively to the proposal, with several commenting that the plan appeared to offer a strong opportunity for students. One member remarked that the program would finally allow more young athletes to see meaningful playing time.

Before concluding, Wright said the district plans to post detailed information about the 7–9 football program on its new website so that parents can review the guidelines and submit questions. He encouraged board members and families to contact him, athletic director Biggie or principals with concerns.