Rockingham Community College president updates county on quarter‑cent sales tax–funded programs

Commissioner Kevin Berger said Rockingham Community College President Dr. Sylvia Kopp and college administrators briefed the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 18, 2025 about how the county's quarter‑cent sales tax is being used to expand programs and upgrade facilities.

The update, Berger said, covered technology improvements in the nursing program, advances in the emergency management program and expanded offerings intended to prepare residents for the local workforce. "We're a pilot program," Berger said of the college's career and technical education high school, noting the state General Assembly provided funding for the effort.

The briefing matters because the quarter‑cent sales tax revenue is a designated local funding stream that county leaders and residents watch for investments that affect workforce development and postsecondary training. Berger described the CTE high school as "unique in the state of North Carolina" and said the college has added and expanded programs to meet employer needs in the county.

Berger said Dr. Kopp and her administrative staff were present for the update. He noted technology upgrades to the nursing program and continued development of the emergency management curriculum but did not provide enrollment or budget figures in the meeting comments.

Berger also reminded residents that county meetings are livestreamed and invited the public to attend in person. He said meetings are generally held on the first and third Monday of each month and that, because of the Labor Day holiday, the Board's first September meeting will take place Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m.

No formal motions or votes related to college funding were recorded in the remarks Berger summarized; his comments were presented as an informational update from the college's leadership.