Name as it appears on the ballot: Tracy Pelt
Party affiliation: Republican (Note: This is a nonpartisan race.)
Previous elected offices held: N/A
Age as of Election Day: 48
Immediate family members: Undisclosed
Occupation (employer, where you work, what you do): Founder of C2C Equipping Institute, veteran, minister
Website and campaign social media: peltonboard.com, Committee to Elect Tracy Pelt
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?
Public education is intended to provide all students with a sound, basic education. Cultural and personal ideologies should not be woven into the fabric of the K-12 education system. There should be transparent communication, cooperation and collaboration between our educators and parents or caregivers, not hidden agendas and private meetings with children that are meant to undermine the values parents intend to raise their children by. The Parents’ Bill of Rights is a move in the right direction to protect students, families and the community at large from dangerous ideologies. Furthermore, parents should undoubtedly be able to choose what level of gender ideology and sexualization their children are exposed to. I stand by the fact there there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all model for how our students are educated. Parental values and preferences should never be locked out of the students’ educational process.
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?
My goal would be to focus the funds towards teacher supplements, school facilities and equipment. Our students deserve the best and highest quality educational experience that we can give them. I would ensure that those serving on the frontline day to day with the students reap the full benefit of the budget. This includes teachers, teacher’s aides, bus drivers, principals and the schools support staff. I would closely scrutinize the budget and eliminate wasteful spending on programs that do not enhance the overall educational experience.
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?
E.E Smith is not only a cornerstone of the Cumberland County community; it has also been pivotal in maintaining relations between Fort Liberty and Cumberland County Schools. A new campus would serve all stakeholders and enhance the experience and opportunities for students. If we are to build the new campus it is imperative that we move on securing the grant before the deadline. One question surrounding the E.E Smith construction has been concerning location. Practically speaking, Fort Liberty has the land required to accomplish this project in the most effective manner. However, the board has to be transparent and allow for the community to weigh in and voice their concerns on the matter. Ultimately, practicality, not sentimentality, should rule the decision-making process.
4. Declining enrollment and increasing absenteeism are both significant challenges for Cumberland County Schools. What’s your fix for both?
The old adage states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This statement could not be more true as we take look at the enrollment and absenteeism challenges in our school system. Parental involvement is key in addressing many of the challenges to the students’ education and academic progress. I suggest the implementation of an ad hoc parental committee for the specific purpose of addressing absenteeism and enrollment. The district needs to develop a strategic plan to keep parents involved in the educational journey from start to finish. This could include reaching out to the faith community as well. Faith leaders are instrumental in instilling values necessary for success. Parents, faith leaders and community leaders partnering and collaborating together can address and help the district overcome this obstacle. It would be the role of the ad hoc parental committee to develop the collaborative programs that help our students and the district achieve the desired favorable outcomes.
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?
It’s no secret that the county has been facing staffing issues for some time. While the move was a sudden one it is difficult to believe that Sheriff Ennis Wright came to such a catastrophic decision suddenly. Contracts between agencies should have stipulations in place to ensure coverage and allow time for reaction. For such a serious matter as our students’ and the school staffs’ protection we should have received at least a 60-day notice. The sheriff’s decision did not allow much reaction time. However, I am grateful for how the board worked with Fayetteville Police Department to provide a solution to the problem. Moving forward, the school board must put great emphasis on the contractual details and possibly even secure their own trained security force to provide protection for our students, educators and staff.