Rockingham County Schools projects $264,606 preschool shortfall; parents and teachers urge county support

Rockingham County Schools officials told the school board on March 17 that the district projects a $264,606 shortfall in its preschool program for the 2025–26 school year, and parents and preschool teachers urged the board to keep classrooms open while the district seeks additional funding.

The board read a statement saying the district’s February 24 work session identified preschool as one of several budget shortfalls and that staff planned to include an increase in the request to the county. The statement noted that federal and state grants and partnerships expand access to NC Pre-K but that rising salary and benefit costs and growing identification of children needing exceptional children’s (EC) services have left a funding gap.

The shortfall figure — $264,606 — covers personnel costs the district says are needed to maintain two preschool classrooms. "While it is never our intention to remove services that are beneficial to our students, it is imperative that we make sure we are meeting our legal obligations first and foremost," the board statement said, citing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and North Carolina General Statute 115C-107.1 as the legal framework obligating services for children ages 3–21 with EC needs.

Parents and classroom teachers described the preschool program as crucial to early development and to meeting students’ special education needs. Michelle Butterfield, a parent, told the board her son entered preschool at age 3 with social and speech delays and made rapid progress in one semester at Monroeeton Elementary after starting in the district’s preschool program. "Words cannot fully describe the benefit my son has had because of his early start in school," Butterfield said.

Holly Dalton, a Rockingham County preschool teacher with 30 years of experience, said she teaches a developmental day preschool where most children have disabilities and that closing classrooms would increase class sizes and reduce essential individualized attention. "Children with disabilities need smaller class sizes and more individual attention to help them reach their full potential," Dalton said.

Rebecca Minsell, a preschool teacher at Huntsville Elementary, emphasized differences between Head Start, NC Pre-K and EC funding streams and said early intervention can change a child's trajectory. "Starting at age 3, so much flourishes," she said.

Annie Ellis, who presented budget projections to the board, told members the district is discussing the shortfall with the Rockingham County Partnership for Children and will include a request to county commissioners to cover personnel needed to keep the two classrooms open. Ellis said the district will not automatically fund specific programs at the county’s direction; rather the district submits a prioritized request to the county and the commissioners determine local appropriations.

Board members and staff said they hope to find additional partners and funding to avoid classroom closures, and emphasized that any decision would try to avoid staff layoffs by using attrition or reassignment if reductions are required.

The district’s statement and subsequent discussion make clear the preschool shortfall is tied to multiple funding streams: federal Head Start, NC Pre-K (state-funded), EC funding (state and federal), and local county appropriations. The board asked staff to continue conversations with the Rockingham County Partnership for Children and the county to pursue additional funds before any final classroom closures are implemented.

Looking ahead, district staff said they will present final figures to the county during the county budgeting process and that parents and community members will be notified of any changes once decisions are finalized.