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I. THE NEEDS STATEMENT <br /> <br />North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Cabarrus Center, sought student and <br />community involvement in assessing the needs of middle school youth by meeting to <br />secure input and support with the Superintendent of Cabarrus County Schools, the <br />Cabarrus County manager, a team of administrators, and counselors, as well as <br />teachers at J.N. Fries Middle School'to secure input and support. All parents of J.N. <br />Fries students had an opportunity to complete a needs assessment and the Student <br />Executive Council was also surveyed. In May 2003, all Cabarrus County <br /> <br />Middle school principals and guidance representatives reviewed the program and the <br />needs of students at their respective schools, and recommended the continuation of <br />the present services at J.N. Fries, Concord and Mt. Pleasant Middle Schools. <br /> <br /> The 2000 Census of Cabarrus County reports that children age 6-12 who are <br />living with working parents is 62%. More Cabarrus residents travel outside their county <br />for employment (46.9%) than do persons from any other North Carolina county with a <br />mean travel time of 27 minutes. Ninety-four percent (94%) of our current members <br />indicate they would be alone after school. In 2002, only 2% of the children at Mt. <br />Pleasant Middle School-had a parent who did not work away from the home. This is <br />alarming when the state average of 12 year old students who are home alone regularly <br />is 35%. <br /> <br /> On July 30, 2003, one of the oldest textile plants in Cabarrus County closed and <br />over 4,000 persons were without jobs. in November 2003, the unemployment rate in <br />Cabarrus County was 9.6% compared to 6.2% statewide., Many of those finding <br />work must travel outside the county and spend a longer time in travel. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />