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Perspective | Our public schools remain beacons of hope through crisis and devastation

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Student hug from Old Fort Elementary. Caroline Parker/EdNC

As the nation’s children continue to recover from a crippling pandemic, many of our counties in the western part of our state are experiencing interruptions to the hubs that hold communities together — our North Carolina public schools.

On Sept. 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene began its devastation of our western corridor impacting approximately 200,000 students, 25 counties and over 400 schools. The area of our state lovingly referred to as the “Land of the Sky” now needs the support of those on lower ground to recover. 

Many areas affected in the western part of North Carolina were already experiencing a lack of resources and opportunities such as high poverty levels in certain areas, numerous infrastructure needs, limited broadband, and access to affordable local health care. As we learned with the pandemic, this natural disaster will only exacerbate existing and longstanding inequities. 

Public education in North Carolina is the very foundation for good citizenship. Even through personal loss and lack of power and water, school districts in the western corridor have opened their doors to serve as shelters and resources for the community. Our public schools, local administrators, and educators are stepping up in unprecedented ways to support and serve their students, families, and communities.

From shelter and meals to supply drives, fundraisers, and simply checking in on students’ and families’ wellbeing, our public schools are doing what they’ve always done — opening their doors to serve everyone and leading through love. We see through this tragic event neighbors rallying to help one another on the ground, while those not impacted directly by this event come together to provide other forms of support in this time of need. 

North Carolina’s public schools have always been more than mere institutions of learning — they are vibrant hubs of heart and hard work that build and nourish community culture, pride, and togetherness. They bring together students, families, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds in pursuit of one of the most vital public goods: education.

With no exclusion, denial, or tuition required, our public schools freely welcome and serve all young people and foster an environment where they are educated, encouraged, and empowered to discover and develop their talents, and grow as learners and human beings.

Whether they be social, emotional, or literal, our public schools serve as lighthouses that offer safe haven and hope in the midst of life’s storms. 

It will be years, as our eastern neighbors report, before the schools and districts in the western part of the state return to a “new normal.” As discussed at the N.C. State Board of Education meeting on Oct. 3, 2024, there will be immediate and long term needs that will need to be addressed, starting with the initial legislative requests. Now more than ever, public dollars need to support public schools. 

In neighboring states, like Tennessee, Republican lawmakers are reconsidering universal vouchers and prioritizing relief for storm damage.

In North Carolina, the Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s constitution guarantees a public education for every child. As the General Assembly considers disaster relief, it has the ability to uphold its constitutional responsibility by not sending additional monies to support private school vouchers and instead provide the needed funding to support and rebuild our North Carolina public schools that serve communities without hesitation.

We hope legislators will be good Samaritans for our North Carolina public schools by responding to hurricane recovery needs, and also reconsider their previous support for universal private school vouchers.