Pender County Schools warns 21 locally funded positions will be reassigned or cut after $2.7 million shortfall

Superintendent Dr. Breedlove told the Pender County Schools board that local funding fell far short of the district's request, creating about a $2.7 million gap that would require cuts to locally funded positions unless the county provides more support.

Dr. Breedlove said the district's current local appropriation is $29,789,720 and that the district had requested roughly $4 million more to maintain services and advance programs. The board was notified it had received about $1.3 million from local government, producing an estimated projected local-operating total of $31,089,720 and leaving a shortfall of about $2.7 million.

"The funding that we are receiving from our local government is not sufficient to support free public schools in Pender County," Dr. Breedlove said, explaining that local dollars cover utilities, locally paid positions and district-level supplements. He said employee benefits add roughly 32.32% to the cost of each locally paid staff position.

To reduce the gap, district staff proposed reassigning or eliminating roughly 21 locally funded positions, which the presentation estimated would save about $1.88 million and leave a remaining shortfall of approximately $829,658. Dr. Breedlove stressed a priority to protect classroom teachers and to avoid increasing class sizes, saying the district would first look to trim positions "furthest away from the classroom," including central-office instructional coaches, coordinators and other supports.

"We're going to have to do as much if not more with less," Dr. Breedlove said, describing an immediate hiring freeze and reassignment plan that moves some central-office staff back into schools to cover classroom needs.

Principals and school leaders who spoke during the public comment portion warned of direct consequences for students and program quality if the proposed reductions stand. The principal of Pope Elementary said the school is "on the brink of exiting low performance school status" and that "the loss of a critical support position threatens the momentum we have diligently built to sustain."

Administrators from Surf City Middle, Pender High School and other schools described cuts to programs such as theater and to summer staffing, and asked county commissioners to consider the long-term academic consequences of reduced local support. A CTE leader framed the shortfall as an investment decision, saying the $2.7 million amounts to about $270 per student across roughly 10,000 students and arguing the reduction would "literally change their lives forever."

Board members pressed staff about alternative funding sources. When asked whether bond proceeds could be used to cover personnel, staff said bond funds are restricted and cannot be spent on salaries. On lottery funding, Dr. Breedlove said lottery dollars are folded into state allotments and expressed concern that the accounting can "zero out," echoing public calls for an audit of how lottery money is allocated.

The board and district leaders said they planned to meet with county commissioners the next day to press for additional local support; board members emphasized the district's historically low state funding rankings and the community's stated strategic priority of supporting the schools.

No formal policy decision was taken at the meeting beyond procedural votes to adopt the agenda, enter and exit closed session for attorney-client and personnel matters, approve the HR report, and adjourn. The board scheduled follow-up discussions with county commissioners and said they would attempt to limit classroom impacts while the funding discussions continue.