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Board discusses options after county trims pre-K funding; staff urges consolidation and Title I carryover to protect slots
Summary
New Hanover County Schools staff said the district must protect 540 pre-K slots already promised to families after county commissioners reduced local funding that had supported six classrooms (about 12 teachers and 108 seats).
New Hanover County Schools staff told the board during the agenda review meeting that they have promised 540 pre-kindergarten slots to families for the coming school year and are weighing responses after county commissioners cut funding that would have supported six pre-K classrooms (about 12 teachers and 108 seats).
Superintendent (Dr.) Barnes said the district’s priorities are to honor the 540 committed slots, minimize disruption to families and staff, make financially sustainable decisions and preserve relationships with the county and community. Barnes described seven possible responses: stop pre-K transportation; ask county commissioners to restore funding; request additional funding from the community endowment; use district fund balance; offer paid pre-K slots; reallocate Title I carryover and increased Title I allocations; or consolidate facilities (for example, relocate Howe pre-K into space at Johnson).
Barnes said she did not recommend cutting transportation for the neediest students and cautioned against relying on one‑time fund balance to solve an ongoing funding gap. She reported Title I carryover plus newly confirmed additional Title I allocations total roughly $530,000 and that combining that money with savings from closing a standalone pre-K site (estimated net savings about $255,000) would largely cover the reduced county contribution. She also said consolidating facilities would require difficult logistical and community conversations but could preserve most seats with less long‑term cost than other options.
Board members asked for clarity about which classrooms would be affected and how consolidation would affect staff and families. Ashley (district finance staff) told the board the estimated net fiscal gap could be closed by combining Title I carryover and the savings from consolidation, leaving an estimated positive balance of roughly $4,600 under the district’s current calculations. Board members asked for more public notification and time to consider the options before a final decision; Superintendent Barnes said she would return with a formal recommendation for the board to vote on at the July meeting.
No formal board action was taken at the agenda review meeting; trustees asked staff to develop costed options and a community communication plan for the next regular meeting.
