‘They don’t have the resources:’ New Hanover County parents concerned over EC position cuts

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Budget cuts New Hanover County Schools made to its Exceptional Children (EC) program in June is having an impact on students this year. 

The EC program offers specialized education for students with learning disabilities. 

The cuts were a response to a multi-million budget shortfall that included reducing staff in the EC and Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) programs.   

WWAY spoke with three parents on Wednesday who say their children aren’t getting the same quality of education that they did last year. 

Joshua and April Russell have a son with autism who attends Anderson Elementary in Wilmington. The Russells said this year, their son was moved to a grade level below his own due to staffing shortages. 

“He’s in fifth grade, but he’s not with fifth graders in his specials and recess. He’s with a lower grade, and so that funding caused that because they don’t have the staff to get him in the class where he’s at,” Joshua Russell said. 

The Russells noted their son has lost much of the support he previously received from his long-time classmates during the school day.  

“They have kind of became his safe place. They care for him, they help him, they include him, they get him involved and that’s kind of an important thing for him. He thrives on routine and consistency,” April Russell explained. 

Adding to their concerns, the Russells said EC paraeducator positions that assist in the classrooms were cut in half, leaving both students and teachers with significantly less support.   

Savanna Taylor is another EC parent. Her son, who is non-verbal, just started kindergarten at College Park elementary.   

“He came home with a scratch the other day, and we’re just trying to put the puzzle pieces together cause we can’t see what’s happening during the day. They’re having assistant subs come in and help, but I don’t know that they’re in there the whole time. So yeah. That part is hard,” Taylor said. 

For Taylor, it’s difficult not knowing how her son’s day went, because he can’t communicate it.   

“He can’t tell us if something is wrong. So we have to be able to trust the people that are with him,” Taylor expressed. “You know, the people that are with him, they have the right heart, they do. You don’t go into special education for the money. It’s literally just they don’t have the resources whether it be people or otherwise, like staffing.” 

WWAY reached out to the school district for comment, but we have not received a response as of Wednesday evening.