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Craven County board accepts Dr. Wendy A. Miller—s resignation, approves $362,185 payout and budget amendment
Summary
At its March 24, 2025 meeting the Craven County Board of Education approved a mutual contract termination with Superintendent Dr. Wendy A. Miller effective May 30, 2025, authorized a payment of $350,000 (less deductions), and adopted a $362,185 budget amendment funding the payout from the board—s fund balance.
The Craven County Board of Education on March 24, 2025, approved a mutual termination of Superintendent Dr. Wendy A. Miller—s contract effective May 30, 2025, accepted her resignation and adopted a $362,185 budget amendment to cover the payout.
The action included three formal votes: (1) adoption of an agreement between Dr. Wendy A. Miller and the Craven County Board of Education dated 03/24/2025; (2) acceptance of Dr. Miller—s resignation and mutual termination of her contract effective 05/30/2025; and (3) approval of a budget amendment dated 03/24/2025 in the amount of $362,185 to fund the payout.
Why it matters: board members said the amendment will be funded from the board—s fund balance rather than state funds, local funds appropriated for classroom materials, or donations, reducing the district—s savings and prompting public dissent from some members who said the timing conflicts with ongoing budget cuts discussions.
Stacy Lee, a school staff member who presented the amendment, told the board, "Good evening. I bring forth for your approval tonight, a budget amendment in the amount of $362,185 to cover the payout for Doctor. Miller's leaving. And, just a reminder that this budget amendment, no state funds are being appropriated. No local funds are being used that would be appropriate for teachers, textbooks or classroom materials, supplies or equipment." The board then moved to adopt the amendment.
Lauren Kitzinger, a member of the Craven County Board of Education, opposed the votes and urged caution about the fiscal impact. Kitzinger said, "In complete and utter transparency for the public, the amount made public tonight is not complete. And tonight's budget amendment was not accounted for in any way, shape, or form in those proposals given to us. It will drain our fund balance, leaving our district in even worse shape than we originally suspected." She added that several top leadership positions would be vacant as of June 30 and said she would vote no on finance items because she considered the action "supremely financially irresponsible."
A board statement read after the votes said that by accepting Dr. Miller—s resignation from employment effective 05/30/2025 and her relinquishment of the Office of Superintendent effective immediately, the board and Dr. Miller "have mutually ended her contract effective on 05/30/2025." The statement said the board will pay to her or for her benefit the sum of $350,000, "less required or customary deductions." The statement also said the board will notify the State Board of Education as required by law.
The meeting record includes a citation to state law as read aloud in the meeting: "North Carolina general statute of 1 15 c 2271 requires the board to make public the funds to be transferred or used for this purpose," which the board clerk read when announcing the funding transfer.
Members voting on the key motions split on the agreement and the budget amendment; several motions passed. Dissenting members emphasized concerns about timing and planning while supporters said the payment would be handled from the fund balance and not from classroom resources.
The board did not identify a successor during the meeting. The approved motions direct the payment and the clerk noted statutory notification steps to state education authorities will follow.
