Public School Funding and Teacher Retention

Urged the board to prioritize school funding and increase the percentage of the budget allocated to education.

Shared personal financial contributions made as a school counselor to support students and classroom needs.

Highlighted the critical role of school counselors and expressed concern over increased student-to-counselor ratios.

Called for transparency, accountability, and better alignment between county budget priorities and school funding.

Used an analogy from The Lorax to illustrate how incremental cuts to education erode school quality over time.

A teacher at Hawksnest Steam Academy discussed the impact of reduction-in-force decisions and urged increased investment.

Emphasized that residents will continue attending meetings to demand answers on school funding and the Confederate monument.

Spoke on behalf of the NAACP Gastonia Branch criticizing budget priorities and the handling of school funding.

Questioned the status of legislative requests for sales tax repurposing and urged ongoing transparency.

Asked pointed questions about school budget allocations and called for the removal of the Confederate monument.

A rising fourth grader spoke about the sadness of losing school counselors, librarians, and beloved teachers.

Highlighted the link between K-12 education quality and economic development talent pipelines.