Miss Tolleson, Craven County Schools' director of Career and Technical Education, briefed the board Oct. 18 on program enrollment, credentialing and a recent reduction in state-provided months of employment that the district said reduced CTE staffing by 50 months this school year.

The presentation summarized CTE metrics and changes: about 8,000 course enrollments last year (including middle and high school duplicative enrollments), a 97 percent graduation rate for students who complete a CTE pathway, 135 CTE course offerings (including dual-enrollment classes taught by Craven Community College instructors), and roughly 24,692 industry credentials earned by students since 2010. Tolleson told the board that Craven County Schools tracked nearly $99,000 in credential funding in 2023–24 and had received an initial credential allotment of roughly $29,000 for 2024–25 with the balance expected soon.

Tolleson said the district received 605 months of employment (MOEs) for 2023–24, 604 for 2024–25, and currently has 554 MOEs for 2025–26 — a loss of 50 months she said equates to five full-time teaching positions. Tolleson said the district absorbed three positions this year through a combination of retirements and alternative funding sources: an ag position funded locally at Havelock High School, a third agricultural position that had been intended for New Bern High School (which Tolleson described as constrained by classroom availability), and an engineering position at Early College East funded from an open state allotment the principal reallocated.

Board members asked how the state allotments were calculated and whether the state superintendent or Department of Public Instruction (DPI) could adjust allocations; Tolleson said the district was not given a clear explanation and that DPI provides allotments and occasional revisions. She said some districts respond by using local instructional funds to pay for positions but that doing so reduces discretionary dollars for supplies, field trips, professional development and other needs. Tolleson also said CTE contracts with two retired CTE teachers to mentor and coach new teachers, and that the district plans to continue that support using leftover MOE months rolled into contracts.

Tolleson described new course additions this year: Horticulture I and II at New Bern High School; Counseling and Mental Health 1 and 2 at New Bern and West Craven; Medical Assisting at Havelock and West Craven; AP Computer Science at New Bern; drone courses at West Craven; and the start of a JROTC pathway that will count in CTE concentrator and proficiency data. She also described CTE Crave (Career Readiness and Ventures in Employment), a paid summer internship program for rising juniors and seniors that placed students with local employers including KeyMac, Craven Community College and Black's Tire this past summer.

On funding, Tolleson said credential funding introduced in the past three years resulted in increased credential attainment and allowed for retakes. She said she expects the remainder of the credential allotment for this fiscal year to arrive in the coming weeks. Tolleson asked board members to contact DPI or state officials if they had contacts who could help restore months of employment.

Board members praised Tolleson’s work and the CTE staff supports but expressed concern about the unpredictability of state allotments and the loss of MOEs. Several board members asked for more detail about where carryover and project-based funds appear in the budget and for continued reporting as the district completes its comprehensive local needs assessment.

The presentation prompted discussion but no formal board action; Tolleson said decisions about positions and program changes will await further budget planning and retirements through the spring.

For context, Tolleson said the district offers 19 honors-level CTE courses and one AP-level CTE course, provides about 50 CTE teachers and eight support staff, and that 93 percent of CTE completers show positive placement in education, military service, training or employment after graduation.

Board members encouraged continued outreach to DPI about MOEs and asked staff to provide more detailed budget carryover information for upcoming meetings.