State lawmakers and local elected officials questioned Cumberland County Board of Education members and district leaders on consolidation plans, funding gaps, and teacher safety and retention concerns during a joint meeting on Friday at Douglas Byrd High School.
The meeting—organized as a legislative breakfast between the Board of Education, Board of Commissioners and the county’s legislative delegation—was held for planning and discussion purposes. No formal action was taken.
The wide-ranging discussion repeatedly returned to a central challenge: how the district should adapt as student population shifts, costs rise, and state funding formulas lag behind local needs.
Too Many Buildings
School consolidation dominated the conversation, with lawmakers pressing district leaders on how closure decisions are being made and what impacts they could have on communities.
State Rep. Mike Colvin, a Democrat whose District 42 includes portions of Fayetteville and Spring Lake, said he has been fielding questions from constituents trying to understand the process and criteria behind potential closures.
“I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the school closures and consolidations,” Colvin said. “What was the criteria for the consultants’ proposal?”
District leaders pointed to a facilities assessment conducted by consulting firm MGT, which evaluated school buildings based on capacity, building conditions, and how facilities are being used.
The study has shaped the district’s broader consolidation plan, including proposals to close or repurpose several campuses. But the process has been bumpy.
On March 10, the board voted to rescind several previously approved reassignment and facility decisions following weeks of pushback from parents, educators and community members.
Kevin Coleman, associate superintendent of auxiliary services, said the district’s current footprint reflects a mismatch between the number of buildings and the number of students being served.
“We have too many buildings for the number of students that we have,” Coleman said. “So we’re looking at combining buildings together to make better use of the facilities we have.”
That imbalance has been a central driver of the district’s broader financial challenges, as enrollment has declined while building capacity has remained high. The school district has capacity for roughly 57,000 students, while enrollment is closer to 47,000—leaving thousands of empty seats across the system.
Coleman said the evaluation process included on-site reviews of each campus over roughly nine months, with schools assessed and scored based on factors including structural conditions, enrollment trends, and overall facility use.
Questions Over Fate of School Properties
Lawmakers also raised questions about what happens to school buildings if they are closed, particularly as some campuses sit on valuable land and carry historical significance.
State Sen. Val Applewhite, a Democrat whose District 19 includes large portions of Fayetteville, pointed to community concerns about schools like Anne Chesnutt Middle School, which is among several campuses the district is considering closing, and questioned how decisions around those properties are made.
“Anne Chesnutt is still on the chopping block for possible closure, and I’ve read that a school could be sold to the county for a dollar, and then the county could sell it and return money back,” Applewhite said. “Let’s be clear—that is prime commercial real estate. I’m interested in understanding the policy for how property is transferred and what ultimately happens to those buildings.”
In response, Nick Sojka, the school board’s attorney, said that under state law, once a school property is declared surplus and no longer needed for educational purposes, it must first be offered to county commissioners, who can negotiate the terms of the transfer.
Officials said potential redevelopment could include housing, parks, or other community-centered uses.
$7.9 Million Gap Highlights State Funding Limits
Beyond consolidation, lawmakers and district leaders raised concerns about a growing gap in funding for students with disabilities.
As part of that discussion, Sen. Tom McInnis, a Republican whose District 21 includes portions of Cumberland and Moore counties, asked district leaders to explain how Cumberland County’s needs compare to the state’s 13% funding cap. That limits how many students with disabilities a district can receive state funding for—and what level of funding would be required to meet demand.
“We’ve got to know where the rubber meets the road,” McInnis said. “If 13% is the number, what is the number that would actually make a difference here?”
Superintendent Eric Bracy said the gap reflects the difference between what the state funds and what the district is required to provide.
“That leaves us about $7.9 million to make up the difference,” Bracy said.
The issue stems in part from the state’s current funding structure, which provides a flat per-student allocation and caps funding for special education services at the equivalent of 13% of a district’s student population—regardless of how many students actually need those services.
According to the North Carolina School Boards Association, the current funding model does not reflect the actual cost of mandated services and can create an unfunded mandate for districts serving higher percentages of students with disabilities.
State Rep. Diane Wheatley, a Republican whose District 43 includes eastern portions of Cumberland County, said lawmakers need a clearer understanding of how far current funding falls short of what districts are required to provide.
“We need to know where we are at that 13% and where we need to be to provide the services that are required by law,” Wheatley said. “In some instances, those services aren’t being delivered because the funding and staffing aren’t there.”
Wheatley said the issue is expected to be part of ongoing discussions during the upcoming legislative session, which begins April 6.
The issue carries particular weight in Cumberland County, where a large military-connected population contributes to higher demand for specialized services, including support for students with disabilities, behavioral and mental health needs, and students who frequently transition between schools.
Lawmaker Asks About Teacher Safety
Applewhite raised concerns about teacher retention, pointing to reports of classroom disruptions and violence.
“There are many teachers leaving the profession—because of the behavior of students and the physical assaults,” Applewhite said.
She described incidents shared with her by educators, including a teacher who was punched by a student, and said safety concerns are pushing some educators out of the field.
“I’m going to introduce legislation that is not going to be nice,” she said. “I’m really serious about that.”
Applewhite said the issue extends beyond school policy and reflects broader community challenges.
County leaders closed the meeting by emphasizing alignment with the school district on funding priorities.
“We are in one voice with the school board,” said Kirk deViere, chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, pointing to shared concerns around teacher salary supplements and long-term investment in public education.
Bracy has proposed a $670.8 million budget, which includes a $6.5 million increase in county funding. Once the budget is approved by the school board—which could happen as soon as April 14—it goes to the Board of Commissioners for approval.
The school district is also seeking $610 million from county commissioners for new school construction, major repairs, and facility upgrades as part of the district’s long-term facilities modernization plan.