Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Goals And Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chatham County Schools superintendent sets ambitious goals, warns state cuts will shift AP exam and pre‑K costs to families
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Jackson told the Aug. 11 board meeting he expects all schools to reach at least a B within a year, outlined staffing and technology changes, and said state budget and federal adjustments mean families may face AP exam fees and the district lost about 51 pre‑K slots.
Dr. Jackson, the superintendent of Chatham County Schools, outlined academic and operational goals for the 2025–26 school year and warned that recent state and federal funding changes will require the district to shift costs to families.
Speaking at the Aug. 11 board meeting, Dr. Jackson said the district has set targets to increase school SPG composites by 3–5 points and to move ‘‘all schools to be B or above’’ after pandemic-era recovery efforts. He said teacher vacancies are ‘‘about 23’’ and that district leadership seeks a 15% reduction in central-office turnover and a 25% increase in parent and community engagement.
Dr. Jackson framed several near-term operational changes as consequences of external funding decisions. He said a stopgap state budget provides no general raises and only limited step increases, and that ‘‘it’s a net negative’’ for district finances. On AP testing, he told the board the General Assembly will not cover most AP exam fees this year; ‘‘the fee is approximately $98 per test,’’ he said, and families who take multiple exams could face several hundred dollars in charges. The superintendent and district staff noted existing fee-waiver and hardship mechanisms but said waivers do not eliminate all costs.
The superintendent also said the district is switching student data systems from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus and urged families to confirm registrations through the parent portal to prevent enrollment and bus-routing errors. He announced the district will expand the YonderPouch phone-management program to the remaining traditional high schools in response to a new state law restricting phone use during instructional time, aiming to keep teachers focused on instruction rather than policing devices.
On early-childhood services, Dr. Jackson reported the district lost 51 NC Pre‑K slots because of state cuts and reminded families that schools eligible under the Community Eligibility Provision may require individual applications to receive meal coverage. He said the district will no longer provide ESS substitutes for instructional assistants except where state law requires two adults (for certain special‑education and pre‑K classes).
Dr. Jackson closed by thanking staff and saying he had declined a 5% performance bonus this year; the board, by consensus, agreed to add one year to his contract, extending it to June 2029. He asked the public to direct concerns to him personally and emphasized the district’s focus on students.
The board will consider additional operational and financial steps in coming meetings as the district refines its response to state and federal funding changes.
