4/10/2024

New from EdNC

What is it like to be a teacher today? A new survey provides insights

by Mebane Rash | April 9, 2024

K-12 teachers in public schools are stressed, with 77% saying it is frequently stressful and 68% saying it is overwhelming. Few are optimistic about the future of public education, with 82% indicating they think the state of public education has...

Guide for school and district leaders: Better practices in staffing when budgets are cut

by Matthew Springer | April 9, 2024

School leaders are no strangers to fiscal cuts. With personnel costs, including salary and benefits, typically consuming up to 80% of a school’s annual operating budget, leaders are frequently confronted with difficult choices regarding staff restructuring and layoffs when budgetary...

As federal funds expire, Chatham County Schools provides mental health care for students

by Hannah Vinueza McClellan | April 8, 2024

Across the country, the pandemic highlighted and exacerbated mental health challenges — particularly among youth. In response, many states and school districts prioritized putting federal COVID-19 dollars toward mental health initiatives. More than half of North Carolina districts and charter...

Students in Guilford County Schools now have access to free period products

by Cheyenne McNeill | April 9, 2024

Students at all Guilford County Schools traditional high schools now have access to free period products, thanks to the Period Power initiative by the Diaper Bank of North Carolina. The initiative’s expansion into Guilford County Schools was made possible by...

Perspective | Voting should be purple when it comes to education

by Donna Bledsoe | April 8, 2024

As a seasoned veteran in the field of education, having dedicated two decades of my life in service to North Carolina Public Schools shaping young minds and fostering academic excellence, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of effective leadership on...

The Editor’s Notes

Schools and districts are facing increased budget pressure because of the federal funding cliff, enrollment declines driven by demographic changes, and school choice expansion. As principals and superintendents think about 2024-25 — from master scheduling to preparing budgets — we asked Matt Springer to write a series of briefs for us about research-based best practices. We watched — and learned from — Superintendent Trevor Putnam in Haywood County Schools who had to make hard decisions last year when his budget pressure was increased because the closing of a paper mill — the state’s largest layoff in 2023. Additional articles from Springer are forthcoming.

Need to know

• A federal facility in North Carolina is set to house migrant children. What do we know?

  The News & Observer | April 9, 2024

• COLIN CAMPBELL REPORTS | NC superintendent candidate Michele Morrow gets backing from high-profile GOP fundraisers

  WUNC | April 9, 2024