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Board approves $3,000 contribution to NC School Boards Association; member recuses
Summary
The board approved a $3,000 contribution to the North Carolina School Boards Association for advocacy work during the legislative session; Paul Baker, who serves on the association board, recused from the vote.
The McDowell County Board of Education approved a $3,000 contribution May 11 to the North Carolina School Boards Association to support advocacy and legislative outreach. Board member Paul Baker, who serves on the association’s administrative board and who presented the request to the board, recused himself from the vote.
Baker said the association’s staff and lobbyists provide the district access to legislators and described recent advocacy on issues including insurance continuity for school-owned properties and proposed charter-school legislation. “I feel like that it's essential in bringing this to the board,” he said, describing the contribution as targeted to help maintain legislative representation for smaller districts.
A motion to approve the funding was made and seconded; the board approved the item with an eight-vote majority (Mr. Baker recused). The board’s discussion noted ongoing advocacy needs for teacher and staff pay and the potential value of an additional lobbyist at the association for the short legislative session.
Next steps: The district will transmit the contribution and continue to coordinate with the association on legislative outreach; Mr. Baker did not participate in the vote per recusal rules.
