‘Fund the Future’ campaign challenges potential job cuts in New Hanover County Schools

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Funding public schools: that’s the mission of a new campaign launched by educators and advocates.  

The campaign is called “Fund the Future” and was launched in collaboration with New Hanover For All and the New Hanover County Association of Educators.  

Educators and advocates met on Saturday for their first organizing event. The campaign comes as 279 positions could be cut by the New Hanover County Board of Education.  

According to New Hanover County Association of Educators President Jacqui Dalessio, many of the positions on the chopping block will impact the county’s most vulnerable students.  

“You need people in the classrooms everyday supporting our kids and doing the job. They’re facing cuts to special education, academically gifted students, mental health with councilors and social workers,” she said. 

As New Hanover For All member Hannah Hearn explained, the school board is considering the cuts after the loss of Esser Funds, which were part of COVID-19 relief efforts.  

“We knew they were running out, our city knew they were running out, our county knew they were running out and there has not been a plan yet,” she said. “So, what our demand is, along with everybody who gets involved with our campaign is asking that the board of education and the county commissioners pass an education budget that will fully fund these positions,”  

Dalessio noted that the campaign is starting a petition to rally community support.  

“We are taking these signatures to the board of education and the county commissioners to say this many people in our community are saying ‘absolutely not.’ We will not pass a budget that has these cuts to student-facing positions,” Dalessio said. 

The cuts are not popular among some school board members, including Stephanie Walker, who attended the event. Still, Dalessio said they will appeal to the board of education and county commissioners.  

“We’re also going to be attending the May county commissioners meeting and the May school board meeting and having people there to support with their voice or even just their presence is key,” she said. 

Dalessio added that the organization will also be hosting an event on April 20 at the Sigmon Rd. Walmart to collect supplies donations for teachers.  

According to a report from the Education Law Center, North Carolina ranked 48th nationally in education funding.