Feb. 21, 2023

Four of the six District representatives on the CMS Board of Education participated this morning in a discussion at the Forum. The initial idea was to compare how the promises they made before November’s election compared with their actions to date.

The quick answer is that very few weeks have elapsed since their taking office. And the issues on the table are what former Supt. Dr. James Pughsley referred to as “big rocks.” Moving big rocks (e.g., superintendent searches, bond packages, etc.)  takes time.

Perhaps the most hopeful thing said was put on the table by District 1 rep Melissa Easley: Immediately after the election results were known, the new majority of the board began talking to one another. That doesn’t mean there will be unanimity or that all taxpayers and parents will be satisfied by the new board’s decisions. It does. however, hold out the prospect for positive outcomes.

Viewing the video below may help newcomers to North Carolina get some sense of just how complex the governance of N.C. education has become. And how navigating toward giving every child the education that that child deserves can get so, well, fraught.

During the session, a number of people said they would send to the Forum background materials about issues the new board members are working on. As those materials arrive, links will be added.