Cabarrus County Board of Education lays out legislative priorities for Raleigh representatives, cites staffing, funding and safety gaps

The Cabarrus County Board of Education on Monday presented a five‑point legislative agenda to state representatives, asking the General Assembly to address teacher pay and licensure barriers, reform the state funding formula, rebalance school accountability measures, allow more calendar and staffing flexibility, and restore or expand funding for school resource officers and building upgrades.

The presentations — led by Superintendent John Capicki and cabinet members — emphasized that local steps are not enough to fill staffing gaps and meet rising student needs. "Competitive pay is a direct reflection of the value we place on education," said Dr. Robert Williams, chief of human resources, urging the legislature to pursue market‑driven compensation, licensure reciprocity and fully fund the state’s advanced teaching roles program.

Board leaders said the agenda is aimed at preserving and improving student outcomes as the district grows. "This meeting is all about collaboration — relationship building, information sharing, and really allowing our representatives to understand what our Cabarrus County Schools' priorities are on the legislative front," Board member Rob Walter said at the start of the meeting.

What the board asked legislators to pursue

Recruiting and retaining teachers: Dr. Williams said North Carolina trails many nearby states in teacher compensation and that local supplements alone cannot solve the district’s shortages. He described several specific asks: market‑driven salary increases, reinstating supplements for master’s degrees awarded before and after 2014 where applicable, simplifying out‑of‑state licensure and testing requirements, allowing retired teachers to return to classrooms more quickly, and full funding for the state advanced teaching roles program. The board noted an Advanced…