Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge legislature for Helene relief funds, call for public-school support amid voucher expansion
Summary
Several residents used the board's public comment period to ask the board and the community to press state legislators for full disaster recovery funding after Hurricane Helene and to oppose expanding state voucher programs that they said divert public money from schools.
During public comment at the Feb. 10 board meeting, several residents urged the Henderson County Board of Public Education and the community to press state legislators for full funding for Western North Carolina recovery after Hurricane Helene and to oppose policies that redirect public school funding to private-school vouchers.
Mary Landry, representing the League of Women Voters of Henderson County, said the organization will deliver thank-you gifts to teachers Feb. 18 and encouraged the public to recognize school staff. Joe (Jo) Elliott and Sheila Glendening urged the board to contact state lawmakers — identified in the transcript as Senator Tim Moffatt and Representatives Jennifer Balcom and Jake Johnson — and to request that the General Assembly provide the full $1 billion the governor sought for Helene recovery. Glendening specifically called attention to three items she said were omitted from the legislature’s plan: $34 million for impacted school districts to address learning loss, $150 million in grants to businesses damaged in the storm, and $100 million to replace lost local government revenue.
Sheila Glendening and another commenter urged board members to invite the county’s state legislators to meet with the board so they can explain positions on vouchers and disaster funding. Joyce Marcello described state-versus-local funding proportions and urged the board to communicate funding needs to the public, noting that the General Assembly provides the largest percentage of district funding. Several speakers asked the board to do outreach to local civic clubs and voters to raise awareness about school funding and the effect of opportunity scholarships (vouchers) on district finances.
Speakers emphasized civic engagement and encouraged residents to call or message legislators and to press for full disaster recovery and support for public schools. The board accepted the comments; no formal board action or motion was taken during public comment.
