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Parents, teachers and unions urge commissioners to fully fund Wake County Public Schools
Summary
At the May 19 budget public hearing, parents, educators and union representatives urged Wake County commissioners to meet or exceed the Wake County Public School System's local funding request, citing counselor ratios, building repairs and staff benefits at risk under proposed budgets.
Dozens of parents, teachers and education advocates urged Wake County commissioners on May 19 to fully fund the Wake County Public School System’s (WCPSS) budget request for fiscal 2026 and to consider exceeding that request to avoid cuts to counselors, clerical staff and employer‑paid benefits.
Heather Verdi, a parent of an Enloe High School student, opened the budget public hearing by asking the board “for full funding of the Wake County Public Schools budget,” saying cuts would hurt the district’s most vulnerable students. Multiple speakers cited staffing and building maintenance problems, including proposed cuts to dental benefits for employees and reductions in clerical staffing that supporters said would harm school safety.
Christina Cole, identified in the meeting as Wake NCAE president, told commissioners the school board’s request was for an additional $40,300,000 in local funding but that the school system still faces deep needs; she said the county manager’s proposal of a $35,000,000 increase “threatens to rubber stamp even more cuts to the school district's budget next year.”
Parents and PTSA representatives provided examples of local effects: Kristen Wallingford said Enloe High could face “1 counselor to every 450 students,” and called that ratio “unimaginable.” Speakers also described deferred maintenance: Shauna Schnoor and other commenters said some schools have reported mold, leaking roofs and repeated HVAC failures, and that building repairs are proceeding more slowly than planned.
Other speakers urged commissioners to replace state shortfalls with local funding, arguing that North Carolina’s funding formulas disadvantage large districts. Several callers and in‑person speakers said fully funding needs would require an amount higher than the board request; Sam Brewer and others suggested a figure in the range of $90,000,000 to restore staffing and capital maintenance, though the school board’s formal local ask was cited elsewhere as $40,300,000.
Clerk and staff updates provided context: the clerk said the meeting had received 38 written comments to be submitted to commissioners’ email (28 about Lake Crabtree and 11 about schools). Chair Evans and county staff reminded the public there would be an additional public hearing May 20 at the Wake County Commons Building and that the online portal for comments remained open through May 21.
No formal appropriation was adopted at the May 19 meeting; the board received public comment and will consider the manager’s recommended budget and board deliberations at future sessions.
