School-board and school-funding debate centers on student growth, standards and budget priorities

Education dominated several candidate rounds at the forum. Incumbent board members and challengers addressed curriculum, DEI and local control while proposing different approaches to measurement and budgeting.

Candidates agreed standardized test results do not capture the full scope of student learning. Dr. Kimberly Thompson Hairston argued for revamping the state school report card and incorporating the “portrait of a graduate” (durable skills such as critical thinking and collaboration), while other candidates emphasized student-growth metrics and local flexibility in implementing the state course of study.

On budget priorities, candidates said classroom staffing and teacher retention should take precedence over noninstructional expenditures and some central-office positions. Several speakers called for careful review of EdTech contracts and return-on-investment assessments, and proposed reallocating funds to keep teachers and teacher assistants in classrooms. Candidates also urged stronger partnerships with Rockingham Community College on workforce development and career-technical pathways to retain graduates in the county.

Candidates said transparency and community trust are central: challengers pressed for more open superintendent hiring and clearer processes for reviewing instructional materials; incumbents point to recent capital improvements, grant wins and new programs (Head Start, mobile dental, telehealth) as evidence of progress. Several candidates cited teacher pay and recruitment as critical for future success and suggested creative local solutions (housing supplements, mentoring and professional development).