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Residents urge board to protect public education, warn of lost federal supports
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the March 24 Catawba County Board of Education meeting warned that proposed federal changes and lost programs could reduce supports for special education, school nutrition, and extracurriculars, and urged the board to prioritize student needs.
Members of the public used the board’s three-minute public-comment period on March 24 to press the Catawba County Board of Education to prioritize student supports amid worries about federal policy shifts.
Public commenter Matt Sinn criticized proposals he said would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and urged board members to resist moves that would “weaken local public schools,” concluding, “We must protect public education.” Lynn Dorfman, a Hickory resident, told the board the district has relied on federal grants and asked how services for exceptional children would be sustained if federal funding were lost: “Catawba County Schools has received about $9,000,000 a year in federal funds for special needs students,” she said. Erin Shermeier and other speakers raised food-security concerns; Shermeier said, “Hungry kids cannot learn.” David Nields, a theater teacher, echoed the theme, urging the board to focus on student needs rather than library content debates.
Speakers linked program cuts to practical classroom impacts: loss of federal farm-to-school support was singled out for reducing access to fresh produce for students, and one speaker warned that reduced federal coordination could create unequal outcomes across states. Several commenters urged the district to protect arts and extracurricular opportunities—Kimberly Turk urged the board to help revive regional Science Olympiad participation after declines during COVID—arguing those experiences support student engagement and future career pathways.
The board took no formal action during public comment but heard these concerns ahead of agenda items addressing policy review, budgets and personnel. Board members later referenced student hunger and safety while discussing policy priorities during the meeting.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April, when some of these topics (including attendance policy language and calendar feedback) are expected to return to the agenda.
