Several principals and school leaders told the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners on April 22 that teacher vacancies, burnout and noncompetitive pay threaten instructional stability across the district and urged the board to fund additional positions and higher salaries.

Dr. Adam Auerbach, principal of Concord High School, said the county needs to make a ‘‘fair investment’’ in teachers to keep experienced educators in classrooms. "We're asking for a fair investment in the people who shape our children and in turn shape the future of Cabarrus County and The United States Of America," Auerbach said. He described seeing ‘‘teacher burnout’’ and vacant positions and said losing teachers removes relationships and stability from students' lives.

The request drew similar testimony from other school leaders. Chris Balga, principal of Culture and Webb STEM Elementary School, said the school has had recent recognition for closing achievement gaps but that honors alone do not sustain success. "Without competitive salaries and robust professional development, we risk losing the very heart of our school — the people who make a difference in our students' lives every single day," Balga said.

Tim Taylor, principal at Hickory Ridge Middle School, told commissioners that beginning teachers can make more money in gig work than in the classroom, making recruitment and retention difficult. "We have a system where teachers at a beginning level could make more money doing DoorDash and doing other jobs versus being in the classroom," Taylor said, urging commissioners to consider long-term gains when setting budgets.

Former and current school leaders who spoke during the same public-comment block raised related concerns about pay equity and payroll timing. Chantelle Berry, who served in district leadership from 2022 to 2024, said a salary study and district funds did not remedy perceived disparities during her tenure and asked the board to consider those personnel issues while reviewing county budget proposals.

Why it matters: Commission budget decisions shape local funding that the school district relies on for positions, supplements and program supports. Speakers framed the request as both an equity issue for students and an economic investment in the county's future workforce.

Supporting details: Speakers tied classroom staffing to district reputation and local economic health. Auerbach noted families and businesses consider school quality when choosing where to locate; Balga highlighted that personalized instruction and small-group support drive gains that could be lost if staffing levels fall. Taylor referenced county ranking data discussed by other commenters to frame the urgency of local funding choices.

What commissioners did: The public-comment period does not itself produce a vote. Commissioners heard the testimony; funding decisions will be considered later in the budget process.

Ending: Speakers closed by asking for concrete budget commitments to hiring and retaining teachers. Several asked the board to prioritize classroom staffing and competitive compensation in upcoming county budget decisions.