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Board outlines 2025 legislative priorities; members press for state support for technology staff and stronger language on public-school funding
Summary
Mr. Jenks presented a working draft of the board's 2025 legislative program; board members suggested sharpening requests for state support for roles like instructional-technology staff, streamlining priorities into fewer high-impact asks, and considering explicit language opposing voucher expansion and urging public dollars for public schools.
Mr. Jenks presented the board's draft 2025 legislative program, noting largely continuity with the prior year’s priorities and pointing the board to source materials including the state PTA and the North Carolina School Boards Association agendas.
The working draft covers staff compensation and recruitment, equity and inclusion, local authority over calendars, universal pre-K funding, support for wellness and special-education services, accountability and parity between public and charter/private schools, and capital/facilities investments.
Board members recommended several changes and emphases. Meredith suggested adding language that reflects an interest in state support for personnel who are technology experts. Another board member recommended encouraging the General Assembly to update allotment formulas to fund positions such as world-language teachers and additional teacher assistants. Barb urged stronger language on directing public dollars to public schools and called the recent voucher law "ridiculous," saying voucher expansion and charter caps present threats to public schools. Several members supported streamlining the document into a few high-priority asks — for example, public-education resources (teacher compensation and support staff), technology investment in people, and capital needs.
Mr. Jenks said he would incorporate the board's feedback into a revised draft and that staff are arranging a meeting with state elected leaders to discuss priorities.
Next steps: administration will draft revised legislative-language reflecting the board's input and return it for review at a future meeting; the board plans outreach to its state delegation to discuss the program before finalizing priorities.
