School-board candidates debate partisan elections, remote learning and teacher pay at Caldwell forum
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Summary
School-board hopefuls and commissioners debated whether school-board races should be partisan, whether remote learning should substitute for in-person makeup days and how to address teacher pay and declining enrollment.
School-board candidates at the Caldwell County retired-teacher forum focused on curriculum oversight, staffing and how to maintain in-class instruction after weather-related closures.
Several speakers voiced strong objections to remote-learning days as a substitute for in-person instruction. Incumbent BJ Fore said, "There's no substitute for being in that classroom" and argued for making up instructional days in person. Teresa Branch and Lisa Bollock Widener described extensive classroom experience and said they favor prioritizing resources for teachers and face-to-face instruction. Lisa Bollock Widener, a retired educator, said she has visited schools regularly and emphasized the importance of small-group instruction and teacher-led learning.
Meredith Wilson presented a different perspective: her daughter completed two years at the Caldwell Online Academy and Wilson said remote formats can be beneficial for neurodivergent students and for adults juggling college and work. She argued that remote learning "doesn't have to be disastrous" if students have internet access and supports.
Candidates also addressed the recent move toward partisan school-board elections. Some speakers said the change began at the state level and was facilitated by a local resolution; others said they opposed partisanizing school governance because it excludes unaffiliated voters and injects partisan divides into education.
On teacher pay and retention, several candidates described budget pressures and low state pay scales as reasons educators leave the profession. BJ Fore and others said the county must plan long term to protect teachers' pay and retain staff.
What happened at the forum: candidates presented competing views on remote learning, agreed attention must be paid to teacher compensation and described the partisan-election change as originating at the state level, with local votes to support that change noted by multiple speakers.
Next steps: voters should examine candidate plans for calendar policy, remote-learning contingencies and proposals to improve teacher pay and special-needs services.