Residents urge Catawba County commissioners to pause proposed school merger, cite data and funding concerns

Dozens of residents used the public-comment period at the Nov. 3 Catawba County Board of Commissioners meeting to urge the Board not to proceed with a proposed merger of local school systems, challenging data presented at recent community meetings and asking for more analysis.

The residents said enrollment and per-pupil headcount figures presented by schools are inaccurate and could mask financial and program impacts. "The merger is about money, not education," said Brandon Bray, a speaker during the session. Jon David Ross warned the Board that the merger could trigger a reported $2.7 million loss in funding. Meredith Ross said she would "be willing to pay higher taxes" to keep the systems separate rather than risk cuts to programs she views as essential.

The comments were raised by a string of speakers, including Duane Kirkman, Casey Prince, Brenda Sigmon, Carly Black-Pruitt and others, who repeatedly requested additional analysis. Angie Harris-Ramseur asked the county to obtain a full impact study from Prismatic Services, an education consultancy referenced by speakers as having been used in other North Carolina merger feasibility work.

Board members received the comments during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal action or vote on a merger was taken that night. County staff did not present a response or a timeline for follow-up during the meeting. The Board’s next procedural steps on the subject were not announced at the session.

The public-comment period is one early step in the local process. Any formal proposals or decisions about restructuring school governance would require further study and separate agenda action by school boards and, where applicable, county leadership.