[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6060642,"mediaKeyId","3289135-594ab745d7e2b6e07b65da84af283a74","parentId",3289135,"title","Alumni, parents and students press board for more transparent hiring of E.E. Smith band director","audioSeconds",1175,"startMs",2181000,"endMs",3356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289135-594ab745d7e2b6e07b65da84af283a74&start=2181&end=3356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289135-594ab745d7e2b6e07b65da84af283a74/thumbnail_2181000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6060642/North-Carolina/Alumni-parents-and-students-press-board-for-more-transparent-hiring-of-EE-Smith-band-director","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060642-fa45f9ef1b296d39c0e3ff755cacde89/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452820&Signature=BtI-tyH~T1UNv8YydXa474XtU4Tfu7hIXX8dIon-XeavXZnx0hpVjcVJ67qd4fGSid1fFT4YyJXEIOoHH6n2v04G4no1c7y0rhKiGZMvuyN4uZZj0A1RACUOrxS2PeFtdFGGaQTK8lO2TsBHVDB3oroKiTwGUov~9D2E2iKmQTvAyY2ahaJjojpeTHHX8s5if9FYJUq4nQUbf0Ogh-Pkn-RiWkuLRzN0Wi-9SnDTG5q5T51WM4FKpaEPom0ydtwyjSH~6EX2qnVxJzGNvFybbOB44AZ4sxXO4OgeVX4Djm6-aXxEUMCMj7gydWhddO9OtRFTgM9OskY5hSk4I2dJiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cumberland County Schools","date","2025-05-13T20:43:04Z","article","Several alumni, parents and current students addressed the board May 13 with concerns about the selection process for a new band director at E.E. Smith High School, one of the district's long‑running marching band programs.

Speakers asked the board to ensure the hiring process honors the program’s legacy and includes music‑education expertise in interviews. Dr. Mary Henson, who identified herself as a 1999 alumna and donor to E.E. Smith, said the program’s history \"requires specialized expertise unique to Smith's program\" and urged inclusion of \"a fellow music educator\" in interviews to verify candidates’ skills.

Why it matters: E.E. Smith’s marching program has been cited by speakers as a community institution with decades of alumni involvement. Commenters said the program’s public profile and unique demands mean the district should take additional steps to verify credentials and involve current music staff, parents and alumni in the selection process to protect the program’s legacy.

Speakers’ key concerns: Mary Henson and other alumni argued the new director should have documented music‑education credentials and that former or current program affiliates should participate in selection. Bridal Burton, who identified herself as an alumnus and parent, said the former director was not included in the process and that community members worry the chosen candidate \"lacks the proper credentials.\" Student leader Ashton Burton told the board that student organizations rely on directors who can train leaders and urged that staff affiliated with the organization be included in hiring decisions.

Board response: The remarks were made during the public forum and were taken under advisement; the board did not take immediate action or change the hiring process during the meeting. Speakers urged the board to adopt a more transparent, stakeholder‑involved approach going forward.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCS Board of Education Meeting May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Speakers at the Cumberland County Board of Education meeting urged a more inclusive and credential-focused hiring process for the E.E. Smith High School band director, citing the program’s five-decade legacy and asking that music educators and stakeholders be involved in candidate evaluation.","taxTitle","Cumberland County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14089,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6060647,"Parents, students and teachers urge board to preserve and invest in Cumberland Academy virtual schools",1291,1754000,3045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289135-594ab745d7e2b6e07b65da84af283a74&start=1754&end=3045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289135-594ab745d7e2b6e07b65da84af283a74/thumbnail_1754000.jpg","/articles/6060647/North-Carolina/Parents-students-and-teachers-urge-board-to-preserve-and-invest-in-Cumberland-Academy-virtual-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060647-228cc62b18e3ebe784a76da68b689089/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452820&Signature=QLxodI~~QPDM3qzd4wYCmhRG~88s3Ux9jFboPQKIBk9sDzG3vSQ-7xgjfVNcl7PnMOtUxcawbAQpI577KJW85afTLaCOpJRt4Q-Nc~NniN-lZuHW6uLpyRsJHujueZG-ab81xsJArJXebkX1cEE6VC2YgZcVucCrXl8wlCJDnxD6nl2KdKQ3X4XLog97ixu4kCOAAfXDVSilFFi2H6tQdAOylmfscit4DuCAqnTq3nay1RqmYezHaQMi8gQfMx1afUWfCGtD~R4UHTvruDiSTBFYbdq~JFWhPDG8YFhBxe4W015G7ABRQlL1m8tAqHgb38E5~VNu7D68Sb594l~JkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several parents, students and district educators told the Cumberland County Board of Education on May 13 that Cumberland Academy Virtual School provides vital educational options and asked the board to maintain and invest in the program.

Speakers during the public forum described the virtual program as more than an emergency remote option during COVID, arguing it is a purpose-built choice school that serves students with medical needs, safety concerns, or who otherwise thrive in a virtual environment. Heather Kaiser, who identified herself as \"a veteran teacher of 27\" in the district with a doctorate in education, said the board should \"invest in the ongoing needs of this program,\" including technology support, specialized staffing and professional development.

Why it matters: speakers said the virtual option supports academic growth and student wellbeing, and warned that removing the option could harm students and lead to loss of experienced virtual teachers. Student speakers and parents gave personal testimony about academic gains and improved mental health.

Details and data cited: Cumberland Academy teachers and a parent cited specific growth metrics. Hazelin Williams, a sixth-grade English language arts teacher at Cumberland Academy Virtual School 6–12, told the board, \"Overall, last year, 57.4 of my students were proficient compared to the district average of 48.2 and the state average of 49.4.\" Williams also supplied year-over-year growth figures for her classroom: 388 points of growth for one cohort and 300 points of growth for another, and said benchmark results placed her virtual students above most county middle schools.

Students and parents: Cameron Bebo, identified as a Cumberland Academy graduate and a sophomore at Fayetteville State University, described Cumberland Academy as \"a lifeline\" that gave him confidence and opportunities leading to awards and extracurricular success. Parent Paul White described his son’s medical vulnerability and said the virtual school provided ‘‘peace of mind’’ and consistent support. A first-grade student, Josiah White, told the board he felt supported academically and socially in the virtual environment.

Board response and outcome: comments were heard during the public forum and taken under advisement; the board did not act on the requests at the meeting. Several speakers asked for sustained funding and recognition of virtual educators’ expertise in program decisions.

","Multiple speakers during the public forum urged the board to continue and invest in the district's Cumberland Academy online programs, citing student success, mental-health benefits, growth metrics and staff expertise.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6060652,"Cumberland County Board of Education adopts $103 million-plus spending plan, directs majority of new money to employee pay",761,3518000,4279000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289135-594ab745d7e2b6e07b65da84af283a74&start=3518&end=4279","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289135-594ab745d7e2b6e07b65da84af283a74/thumbnail_3518000.jpg","/articles/6060652/North-Carolina/Cumberland-County-Board-of-Education-adopts-103-million-plus-spending-plan-directs-majority-of-new-money-to-employee-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060652-b27b7c6cd01d690d32a7d0845dbb81e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452820&Signature=VTmPVjMzYM4iY2UepNSdUcyZKvTaX5kaG9dBHS4EOBrtbVL~-2gVTcRFuvw~P8Bdi5ZGTyqgApkeH2ZxxIBc6Aejfqe60rnTYHB2Jd5cvRHQ6YgtEp9WBE1kxwz~Xr0NqKJ9anYb6zovpUeOuCHcPPad8sySOM4HvLrH1AylD1DHMByTcHGP0anBonrF5o8T-jnfV4j~hcaEMFdEy6Ws7TWSgWsL0LGiDyK374FYzeOtODwrvES-CkGNJ9mMWMHV0eO1ilAqCVISZTOM~OwuZa1E6qHKR4SYHT87MJpdF7pb~grh2usUoLbrpkVGYZetaICEZYuL6US6lMTYr4Xriw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cumberland County Board of Education voted unanimously May 13 to adopt the superintendent's recommended budget request, a spending plan the district will forward to county commissioners that asks for a $14.1 million increase in local funding and directs the bulk of any new money to pay supplements for certified and classified staff.

Board members approved the budget after a presentation by district finance staff and a motion from Board Member West, seconded by Board Member Williams. The board did not register dissent during the formal vote.

The request asks county decision-makers to add $14,100,000 to the local appropriation and calls for a combination of state, county and fund-balance resources to cover next year’s spending. \"The add, the request of an increase in our county appropriation is 14,100,000.0,\" the district presenter said during the budget briefing. The packet presented to the board included a proposed use of about $14,200,000 of the district's fund balance to help balance the coming year.

Why it matters: district leaders told the board that the plan is intended to make the system more competitive for staff by increasing teacher supplements and boosting classified supplements. The preliminary budget is built on the governor's proposed state budget but notes possible differences if the General Assembly adopts alternate amounts. The board's action sends the request to county leaders for their appropriation decision.

Key provisions and numbers: the district's request would allocate roughly $11.7 million of the $14.1 million increase to certified teacher supplements and $2.4 million to classified supplements. The proposal incorporates an assumed 3% state pay raise and a $1,000 employee bonus drawn from the governor's budget proposal; the Senate alternative referenced in the briefing would instead reduce the average teacher raise to about 2.1% and propose a $1,500 one-time bonus for all employees. The district also plans a permanent increase in the local classified supplement from 2% of salary to 6% under the proposal.

Budget tradeoffs discussed: to free local dollars for raises the district identified $2.72 million in reductions to central office budgets and roughly $700,000 in contracted services savings, including lower telecommunications costs after a recent audit, savings from a switch to MetroNet, and contracted grounds maintenance. The budget briefing also accounted for projected increases in utilities, insurance and substitute costs. As of June 30, 2024 the district reported about $51 million in total fund balance; the packet shows planned uses and restrictions that would leave a remaining unassigned balance after the proposed drawdown.

Board discussion and vote: Board Member West framed the package as a substantial investment in staff, saying this is the first time in his 23 years on the board the budget request exceeded $100 million. After questions, West moved to adopt the superintendent's recommended budget as the Finance Committee recommended; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Next steps: the adopted request and accompanying budget booklet will be sent to the county for their review and appropriation decisions. County commissioners will determine the final local funding level when they set the county budget. The district noted that statutory reporting (referencing 115C-429 in the packet) requires submission of academic performance data alongside the budget.

","The Cumberland County Board of Education unanimously adopted the superintendent's recommended budget request that asks county commissioners for a $14.1 million increase and allocates most new funds for teacher and classified employee supplements, uses $14.2 million of fund balance and includes proposed raises tied to pending state legislation.","actionData","errors"]

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Alumni, parents and students press board for more transparent hiring of E.E. Smith band director

Parents, students and teachers urge board to preserve and invest in Cumberland Academy virtual schools

Cumberland County Board of Education adopts $103 million-plus spending plan, directs majority of new money to employee pay