Teachers, parents and students urge county to close $2.7M school funding gap

A steady stream of teachers, principals, parents and students testified to Pender County commissioners about the classroom effects of potential budget cuts and urged action to maintain instructional supports.

Sarah Wear, who said she was speaking as a mother, framed the budget choice as an investment: "Every number is a child," she told the boards. Jessica Bellflower, identified in the transcript as principal of Topsel Elementary, described the practical classroom consequences if instructional coaches, beginning-teacher mentors and exceptional-children coordinators are eliminated: "When instructional coaches... are eliminated, their responsibilities shift to classroom teachers and school administrators who are already working at capacity."

Teachers and specialists emphasized specific programs and supports at risk: instructional coaching, beginning-teacher mentoring, exceptional-children services, substitute funding and professional development. Megan Winstead, the district's early literacy specialist, explained that coaches model lessons and provide real-time support that helps teachers immediately adjust instruction. Several speakers said reductions would worsen workload, reduce planning time and risk noncompliance with special-education timelines.

A student, Kenya Johnson, described how an instructional coach helped her class through a difficult transition and urged commissioners to preserve those supports. Parents and teachers also urged use of county reserves as a stopgap until property revaluations increase revenue.

The public testimony played a clear role in the board's decision: later in the meeting commissioners voted unanimously to add $2.7 million to the school budget. School officials said staff will provide follow-up detail about how the additional funds will be allocated and the boards committed to further joint meetings to plan longer-term funding and staffing strategies.