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Neuse Charter supporters urge commissioners to approve $10 million for elementary building
Summary
A Neuse Charter School teacher told the Johnston County Board of Commissioners the school’s multi-year funding request should be approved now, saying rising costs make delay harmful to students; board members acknowledged the plea but gave no immediate funding commitment.
Emily Harris, a teacher at Neuse Charter School, told the Johnston County Board of Commissioners on March 12 that the charter’s request for county funding should be approved immediately rather than deferred to a future budget.
Harris said the school submitted its request more than a year ago and asked the board to approve $10 million now to complete an elementary classroom building, noting that construction and interest costs are rising. “If you would like to approve New Charter’s funding request today, $10,000,000 is necessary for our elementary building,” she said.
Harris criticized the county for approving other mid‑year funding, including more than $60 million for Johnston County Public Schools facilities earlier in 2025, and contrasted that with the board’s treatment of the charter school’s request. She also cited counsel’s earlier explanation that the county is obligated to fund traditional public school facilities and may fund charter school facilities, and she urged commissioners to use the fund balance if necessary.
Board members who spoke during the meeting did not take a vote on the charter request. Commissioners acknowledged the plea and repeated earlier legal guidance that the county “may” fund charter facilities but is not legally required to do so; Jennifer Slusser, the county attorney, had previously reviewed the legal framework in an earlier meeting. Chairman Lawler and other commissioners said the county has many competing priorities and that staff would continue to consider the request as part of budgeting.
Harris asked commissioners to treat the request as urgent, saying delays would raise costs and be detrimental to students: “Every school year that you wait is detrimental to Neuse Charter students.” She also offered to be available for further questions.
The board did not adopt a motion related to the Neuse Charter request during the meeting. Commissioners said they expected to consider the request as part of future budget work but gave no timeline or commitment to the specific $10 million appropriation Harris requested.
The public comment period closed after Harris’s remarks and an emailed concern about zoning was forwarded to staff for follow up.
