Seventeen community members, principals and classroom teachers told the Craven County Board of Education on March 20 that planned budget reductions risked undermining student supports that they called essential to classroom learning.

Speakers at the New Bern meeting pressed the board to prioritize instructional coaches, assistant principals, counselors, nurses, social workers and exceptional-children (EC) staff when it finalizes next year’s budget. Several asked the board to seek additional funding from Craven County commissioners and state lawmakers instead of cutting positions.

Instructional coaches were a repeated focus. Molly Strawbridge, a fourth-grade teacher at Bangor Elementary School, said coaches provide “hands-on support” and model lessons for beginning teachers. “Instructional coaches are not an extra expense. They are an investment in the success of our students and in our schools,” she said. Sarah Weems, also a Bangor fourth-grade teacher, told the board coaches provide “targeted in-the-moment support” and help teachers analyze student data.

School principals described the range of work that would be affected if positions were cut. Dr. Ronita Wallace, principal of JT Barber Elementary School and president of the Craven County Schools Principals and Assistant Principals Association, urged the board to “prioritize funding to retain the essential staff members who support our most vulnerable stakeholders, our students.” Rachel Yourr, principal of Bridgeton Elementary School, said coaches helped create a districtwide alignment in early literacy and phonics; Caitlin Watson, principal of Grover Seafields Middle School, warned that cuts would shift responsibilities onto already overstretched teachers and administrators and could reduce student supports.

Parents and community members amplified those concerns. Joseph Twilley, whose son receives EC services, told the board cutting EC positions would harm children with autism and other disabilities. “Please do not write off these kids,” he said. Denise Magwood recounted an incident at a playoff football game in which the district athletic trainer reassured her while medics tended to her son, and urged the board not to cut athletic trainers. Jamiesha Harris and other speakers urged the board to demand larger state and local investments, noting the recent expansion of state voucher funding.

Board members acknowledged the comments and described next steps. Board member Darlene Gibbs thanked speakers and said she had been asking constituents how she could help, adding, “I haven’t talked to anyone looking for dirt. I was asking anyone for help.” Board member Lauren Kitsinger said the public input and job descriptions gave the board a clearer human view of the positions under consideration and said she is willing to ask county leaders “for what we need.” Board member Amy Davis said the county commissioners had not yet rejected any budget request and noted there are federal and state constraints on EC staffing.

Why this matters: speakers said the positions under consideration are not discretionary extras but daily supports that affect instruction, attendance, behavioral health and safety. Several warned that losing those roles could degrade student outcomes and staff retention.

The board did not take an immediate vote to cut specific positions during the meeting. Instead, board members asked for additional information on job descriptions and budget options and emphasized advocacy to county commissioners and state officials before final decisions are made.

Several speakers also criticized conduct at the board’s recent work session and raised concerns about personnel and communications; board members responded briefly during the public-comment response period but did not take formal action on those complaints at the meeting.

Looking ahead: the board will continue budget discussions in coming weeks and expects to present funding requests to Craven County commissioners. Several speakers requested that the board explicitly press the county and state for added funds to avoid layoffs or program reductions.