gyms, cafeterias, and site upgrades across the 80mile stretch from Kitty Hawk to Cape Hatteras. The county commissioners have doubled down, too—funding two years of post-secondary tuition at the community college for any Dare graduate who chooses to stay and earn an associate degree or credential. It’s a fast track to local careers and a way to keep talent on the Banks. COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER If there’s a through-line, it’s partnership. The Chamber of Commerce co-hosts specialized career fairs (including a maritime fair) and a year-long Leadership Academy that places one student from each high school alongside adult cohorts for monthly site visits and networking. That two-way learning—students glean industry realities, adults hear student perspectives—has become a quiet engine for aligning programs with jobs. The Coastal Studies Institute creates internships in marine science and coastal resilience. Town fire departments train student firefighters. The Sheriff’s Office, health services, and towns co-fund nurses and SROs. “We are a large employer, yes,” Basnight says, “but we’re also part of a larger system. Our kids live in it. They should learn from it.” THE ROAD AHEAD Change takes time. Real, durable change—the kind that reshapes schedules, staffing, and the student 252 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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