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Educators urge Edgecomb board to give staff a formal voice, press for pay and resources
Summary
Union leaders and dozens of teachers told the Edgecombe County Board of Education on Dec. 9 that staff need a formal role in decisions about pay, staffing, busing and curriculum after a contentious merger; speakers described shortages, increased duties for custodial staff who drive buses, and calls to restore arts and music.
Marcia Lloyd Williams, president of the Edgecombe County Association of Educators, opened the board’s public‑comment period with a petition she said contained more than 500 signed voice cards representing nearly every school site, and told the board that "public schools are in a moment of crisis." She said staff deserve "a seat at the table" so a democratically run union can participate in decisions about pay, safety, staffing and class sizes.
Other staff amplified that message through three minutes each. Toni Hicks, a multi‑classroom leader at Fairview Elementary, said employees who transferred from Nash following the merger have struggled with the pace of change and with missing reading and math instructional materials, and urged the district to engage directly with merger‑affected staff. "We did not receive adequate time to become familiar with the new instructional resources and curriculum before students began on the August 26," Hicks said.
Several speakers described how the district’s staffing and busing policies add to stress. James Williams, a custodian, recounted a co‑worker who quit after being required to drive a bus in addition to custodial duties and urged pay increases or bonuses for staff assigned dual roles. Brandy Chapelle, a long‑time employee who works across multiple schools as an AIG specialist, said bus shortages are forcing staff to cover routes and that custodians and support staff should not be required to hold bus licenses if it prevents them from doing their primary jobs.
Teachers also described classroom and program impacts. Cassandra Conger, a 21‑year teacher, appealed for a policy to remove cell phones from classrooms after multiple incidents of phones disrupting lessons. Christian Herring, a former principal, urged the board to restore arts and music programs, saying they provide critical outlets and that staff must have input when programming is cut or changed.
Speakers repeatedly asked the board for more transparency about how local funds are used, better support for international teachers who arrive with limited English, and faster responses from district departments. Several asked the board to move beyond symbolic consultation toward formal collaboration with staff and the union.
The chair and board members listened and kept the public‑comment period within the board’s time rules after the board unanimously approved a motion to allow all 12 signatories to speak. The comments conclude with staff asking for specific next steps: clearer communication, targeted material and curriculum support, compensation that reflects added duties, and a formal structure for staff input.
The board did not announce immediate policy changes in response; public comment was followed by regular business and action items, including authorization to negotiate an architect contract for a capital project.
