WCPSS Board Voices Concern Over Budget Cuts Impacting Staff, Students
Changes and cuts include repurposing existing funds, service reductions, and the elimination of vacant positions in an effort to close a projected $60 million funding gap.
Holly Springs, NC, Mar. 26, 2025 — During its March 25 Budget and Finance Committee meeting (video link), members of the Wake County Board of Education raised deep concerns about the superintendent’s proposed 2025–2026 budget, focusing mainly on how cost-cutting measures might affect district employees, classroom support, and overall student well-being.
The proposed changes include repurposing existing funds, service reductions, and the elimination of vacant positions in an effort to close a projected $60 million funding gap. However, several board members made clear that while they understand the fiscal pressures facing the district, they are wary of proposals that could shift the burden to staff and undercut critical programs.
Dental Insurance Cut Prompts Pushback
One of the most controversial items was a proposal to eliminate the district’s contribution to employee-only dental insurance. This change would shift a $28 monthly cost to each of the 16,000+ participating employees and generate $2.5 million in savings.
Board members repeatedly described the move as a de facto pay cut, particularly harmful to lower-wage employees. “I would see this as a loss of income,” said one board member. “And depending on where you are in the pay scale, that hits harder. Especially for our folks like our cafeteria workers.”
Another noted the implications for employee recruitment and morale: “I think this is also a loss for us as a recruitment for benefits per se.” Multiple members called for exploring alternative options, including sliding scales or differentiated support based on income levels. “Could we do something where it’s provided for all of our wage employees versus salary, or could there be a cutoff, like all employees under $100,000 or $50,000?”
Several emphasized that taking care of staff was essential to the district’s mission: “We have to take care of the people that are taking care of our children. Anytime we lose sight of that, you cannot run a school district without the people who do it.”
Concern Over Staff Workloads and Cutbacks
Board members also expressed concern about the impact of proposed position eliminations and reductions in instructional support. In particular, the plan to cut ten Digital Learning Coordinator positions sparked frustration.
“So we’re asking our staff to do more work while we are taking away benefits,” one member said, highlighting a theme of being asked to “do more with less” throughout the budget plan. Another added, “We talk about everything we can do to benefit our teachers and retain them and get new teachers on board, and then we come out with news like this.”
Similar worries were raised about eliminating five certified nursing positions, which have been difficult to fill due to licensing requirements and higher-paying opportunities in the private sector. Though the district plans to continue contracted nursing services, one member remarked, “We still would love to have those structures here, but we are going to have to really rethink a little bit about what's required.”
JUUL Settlement Funds Draw Scrutiny
The board also discussed the proposal to redirect $1.7 million from a $6 million JUUL (anti-vaping) settlement toward balancing the operating budget. While officials assured members the use was temporary and future budgets would restore the funds, some remained skeptical.
“We as a board... were very clear of what we wanted that money to go toward,” one member said, referencing earlier commitments to use the funds exclusively for student wellness and anti-vaping efforts. “So I would want to hear more about taking the majority of $1.7 and keeping that focus on anti-vaping initiatives.”
Given broader financial uncertainty, another asked how the district could ensure the funds would be replenished. “That’s kind of forecasting in the future that we would be able to replace $1.7 million... How would we guarantee that we would be able to keep that directed towards the dual purpose?”
Maintenance and School Conditions Also a Priority
Board members were especially vocal about proposed cuts to custodial and facilities services, warning that decreased cleaning, grounds maintenance, and building upkeep could worsen already strained school conditions. One member reflected on the community’s frustrations with recurring school closures and poor working environments: “We’ve seen case after case of school closings disrupting teachers’ work plans and disrupting families. And it can be destabilizing for the children as well.”
Another pointed out the slow progress of previously proposed improvements, such as a long-term facilities plan that has stalled due to a lack of funding. “It started as a five-year plan. It turned into an eight-year plan. And now I think they just have the little infinity symbol beside it.”
A Call for Balance
Across the board, members signaled they are not opposed to making difficult choices, but want to ensure that the cuts do not disproportionately affect the district’s most vulnerable staff or compromise essential services to students. “If we focus on academics, which means we focus on the people who teach the academics and treat them well, we will reap the benefits of that in a due season,” one board member said.
As budget deliberations continue, board members indicated they would seek alternative funding options, revisit proposed reductions, and push for greater transparency and flexibility before making final decisions.