Basic Needs Ministry "Thirteen years ago, two tutors traversed Johnston County helping the children of migrant workers. Now, the county employs 50 full-time teachers and teacher assistants to serve more than 2,300 students for whom English is a second language -- at an overall cost of about $2 million of the district's $110 million budget." - The News & Observer "Federal funds are provided to schools each year for eligible migrant students. Eligible migrants move to Johnston County to find temporary/seasonal farm work, such as planting, harvesting, and packing sweet potatoes. This migratory work force helps sustain a profitable farming business by providing inexpensive yet productive labor. Students will be selected to receive services based upon the responses on various needs assessments administered/completed by MEP staff, Migrant/ESL teachers, and mainstream teachers. Currently migratory students will have first priority for services. Other criteria to be considered are educational background (e.g., school attendance, grades), health status (e.g., vision needs, dental needs), English language proficiency (when applicable), and migrant students’ performance in the classrooms. All identified out-of-school migrants will also receive services. The MEP design is adjusted each year in accordance with feedback from parents, students, Migrant/ESL staff, mainstream educators, and the availability of collaborative support." - Johnston County Schools Basic Needs answered another telephone call asking for help for school children in Johnston County. The caller from the Johnston County Schools' Main Office wanted to know if we could help with the clothing needs of the migrant children and their families. "Sure," we answered. Thought they were part of the group we were helping through St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Fuquay-Varina. No? These were coming to Johnston County for the spring and summer picking in 2006. OK. I asked naively, "Will 60 sets of clothes be enough?" "No." "How many do you expect?" "8,000." "Uh, did I hear you say 8 followed by 000." "Yes. Let me check. Yes. That is 8,000." "Well, in that case, Basic Needs will assist until its inventory runs out. We heard the story about the fishes and the loaves. Perhaps God can do it with clothes." Let us pray. Later calls reduced the number to 800 and by mid-July, we have yet to see high numbers. |