Name as it appears on the ballot: Donna Blackmon Vann

Party affiliation: Democrat. (Note: This is a nonpartisan race.)

Previous elected offices held: Cumberland County Board of Education, 2015 to present

Age as of Election Day: 63

Immediate family members: Husband Mike; and two sons, Greyson Vann and Jordan Vann (wife Taylor, son Ayden)

Occupation (employer, where you work, what you do): Retired school principal and owner of Global Learning Center that provides academic tutoring

Website and campaign social media: vannforschoolboard@gmail.com; and Donna Vann for Board of Education on FaceBook

1. The “Parents’ Bill of Rights” legislation has incorporated changes regarding education on health, gender identity and sexuality into state law. This year’s state superintendent race features a candidate who has discussed implementing additional measures that some critics call extreme. What’s your assessment of the state of public education in North Carolina?

Unfortunately, I feel the state of public education in North Carolina is in trouble due to decision-making being made based on personal and political agendas. EDUCATING ALL students in our state should be a top priority. To do this, North Carolina should not be ranked last in the nation for the percentage of its gross state product spent on public education, 46th for beginning teacher pay, or 32nd for average teacher pay. Public education needs to become a priority in North Carolina, instead of extending Opportunity Scholarships for private schools. I am an advocate for school choice, but not for inequality of educational accountability when state tax dollars are being spent.

2. If you solely controlled the purse strings of Cumberland County and for the county’s school district, what changes would you implement to both help preserve your fund balance and best serve teachers and students?

In all honesty, if I had sole control over the purse strings of Cumberland County Schools, I do not know of a single change I would make. I believe that what can be done is already being worked on and they are doing an awesome job!

3. This community has long discussed constructing a new campus for E.E. Smith High School. What’s your solution for E.E. Smith High School?

The students of E.E. Smith deserve a state-of-the-art school building! The board of education is ready to make that happen and are waiting for approval by the county commissioners. The board sent a recommendation to the commissioners in January.

4. Declining enrollment and increasing absenteeism are both significant challenges for Cumberland County Schools. What’s your fix for both?

Since the pandemic, we have seen a decline in both enrollment and school attendance. Some students, and people in general, have suffered social and emotional problems that effect not only their well-being, but others’ as well. These challenges are being addressed but it is going to take the whole school community, to include parents and business/community organizations, working together and supporting what is best for each child.

5. Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright surprised officials this spring when he suddenly announced plans to pull school resource officers and traffic control officers from most public schools. What’s your take on his decision, and how would you approach a relationship with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office moving forward? And has the SRO issue been resolved to your satisfaction?

First of all, I understand that the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office does not, and has not, had the personnel to provide the allocated number of SROs for all of CCS. It was just such a surprise announcement and everyone was thrown off guard. I feel it would have been better received if there had been a year to plan and phase in the other departments. The quick decision has put a hardship on all involved. The support of the Fayetteville Police Department and the Hope Mills Police Department has been amazing and everyone is working together for the safety of our schools.