New from EdNC

Board of State Health Plan moves to set premiums based on salary tiers

by Hannah Vinueza McClellan | February 7, 2025

During a year in which lawmakers are saying there may not be funding for raises, the State Health Plan’s Board of Trustees took the first step on Friday to set premiums for active members based on a salary scale.…

State funds for mental health available for school districts and charters in western NC

by Mebane Rash | February 7, 2025

As of Dec. 30, 2024, only $18,969 of $5 million appropriated for mental health by the legislature had been drawn down by charter schools and school districts impacted by Hurricane Helene, according to a draft report to the N.C.…

Q&A | Looney on the state’s community colleges: ‘We’ve got a lot of wind in our sails’

by Matthew Sasser | February 10, 2025

Editor’s note: This story was first published by NCInsider on Jan. 21, 2025. Gov. Josh Stein praised the system as among the nation’s best, highlighting the need for continued investment.…

School cafeterias face triple whammy: Weather closures, rising food and labor costs

by Aarik Long | February 10, 2025

This article first appeared in The Mountaineer, a newspaper based in Waynesville, North Carolina. Haywood County Schools cafeterias posted a loss of $700,000 last year.…

---

The Editor’s Notes

With the early morning news on Friday about the vote by the State Health Plan, I neglected to include the link for the playlist. Courtesy of Jeff McDaris, enjoy.

Today BEST NC is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Shout out to Brenda and the whole team for their leadership on advanced teaching roles, the Principal Fellows Program, Teach NC, teacher and principal pay, and more. Stay tuned.

Need to know

• Education Department’s doors blocked to House Democrats

  Higher Ed DIVE | February 7, 2025

• 12 Education Chiefs Ask McMahon for More Control over Federal Funds

  The 74 | February 6, 2025

• Letter sent to Acting Secretary

  Members of Congress | February 5, 2025

---

---