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Heated public hearing in Lee County as residents and teachers urge supervisors not to cut school funding
Summary
Hundreds of minutes of testimony at the June 17 public hearing focused on proposed FY2025–26 cuts that would reduce the school system’s local match; teachers, parents and students warned cuts could force school closures and harm students with disabilities.
Lee County residents, teachers and students packed the June 17 public hearing to press the Board of Supervisors not to implement deep cuts to the school system in the proposed FY2025–26 budget.
Speakers at the hearing repeatedly asked supervisors to preserve the local match that unlocks state and federal school funds. The county’s superintendent (speaker 4) told the board that local funding levels are tied to state and federal contributions and urged funding at or near the previously discussed 7.1–7.4 million figure to avoid leaving state or federal money on the table. "If you all don't fund the at‑risk money, we will have to give $800,000 back to the state," the superintendent warned.
Teachers and school staff described the immediate classroom consequences of large cuts. Brooke Edwards (speaker 5), a special‑education teacher, said larger class sizes and staff reductions will harm vulnerable students: "You cannot support education whenever it fits your budget... Programs like at risk or special education, which are crucial for supporting vulnerable students, are at risk to be eliminated or reduced." Tina Dean (speaker 25), an assistant principal, recounted her long ties to the county schools and said cuts would damage students and staff.
Students and parents also spoke in emotional terms about small‑school communities such as Thomas Walker High School. Multiple students said they would leave the county’s system rather than attend larger consolidated schools; one senior asked whether the board understood the consequences for students forced to transfer.
Several speakers pressed the board for alternatives to layoffs, including targeted cuts in other county programs, pursuing grants, or a modest local revenue increase. Jonathan Cavan (speaker 15) said he would accept a tax increase if the board can show measurable results from the funds.
Board members responded by reiterating limits and constraints: supervisors noted reassessment changes and required local effort rules and discussed rising costs such as regional jail expenses, stating trade‑offs are unavoidable. Staff and the board said they will continue workshops and negotiations before any final vote; the board did not adopt final budget figures at the hearing.
The public hearing closed after several hours of testimony; the board recessed and later handled routine agenda items including supplemental appropriations and appointments before adjourning and scheduling further budget action prior to the July 1 adoption deadline.
