6/26/2020

New from EdNC

Superintendents uniquely positioned to lead during COVID-19, but stress is leading to turnover

by Alex Granados | June 25, 2020

Update at 10:100 a.m. on June 30: A new superintendent of Asheville City Schools began on June 1. Update at 12:30 p.m. on June 29: In an email, Jack Hoke added that a new superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount City Schools...

Audit of DPI released, ‘significant’ misstatements and omissions found

by Alex Granados | June 25, 2020

Editor’s note: We will continue to report on this throughout the day and will update this article as more information becomes available Updated at 1:00 p.m. In a phone interview, State Auditor Beth Wood said the findings in the audit...

President Michael Helmick looks back (and ahead) as he retires from Western Piedmont

by Nation Hahn | June 25, 2020

After 30 years in education, Michael Helmick is set to retire as president of Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) on June 30, 2020. We visited Helmick just days before his retirement to hear about his proudest achievements as president of...

How will state superintendent candidates work with the governor and the General Assembly?

by Alex Granados | June 25, 2020

In a recent survey, EducationNC asked teachers what questions they had for the two candidates for state superintendent of public instruction. We winnowed the responses down to the best five and added three of our own. We are going to...

Perspective | Big education issues intersect as public opinion shifts

by Ferrel Guillory | June 26, 2020

In looking ahead to North Carolina’s great education debate over the second half of 2020, the image of a five-point intersection comes to mind. From multiple directions, potent forces, issues, and trends seem headed for a convergence — or perhaps...

Perspective | The time to build is now: The need for a school construction bond

by J. Wendell Hall | June 25, 2020

24 — a number sported by Willie Mays, Kobe Bryant, and Jeff Gordon. It is also the number of years since the state of North Carolina last issued a significant infusion of funding for school construction. It was a $1.8 billion...

The Editor’s Notes

Things wrapped up late night at the legislature. The plan right now is to hold skeletal sessions until Saturday, July 11, when legislators will convene to take up bills that may be vetoed by the Governor. Then they will adjourn until September 2. Here are the bills pending the Governor’s signature. Here is a link to the adjournment resolution (note the amendment changing the date from July 7 to July 11).

Here is the letter the Council of Chief State Officers sent to Congress on June 24.

Our colleagues at RTI, led by EdNC contributor and former teacher Allison Redden, are hosting a webinar on Monday, June 29, at 3 p.m. on how COVID-19 will shape the next academic year. Register here.

Let’s end the week with some delight. Take a listen to Rapsody’s message about FAFSA to our seniors! As she says, “follow your dreams, work hard, and congratulations, peace and love.”

Need to know

• Where could college enrollment grow during the pandemic?

  EducationDIVE | June 25, 2020

• What Parents Can Learn From Child Care Centers That Stayed Open During Lockdowns

  npr | June 24, 2020