(The Center Square) – More than two dozen North Carolinians are “tasked with examining teacher training and student advancement, administrative operations, educational leadership, and accountability” in the state’s public education.
Often criticized by the community in and around public schools, Republican leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly are on board with first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein in creation of the 28-member panel on public education. Dubbed the Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education, it includes 10 elected lawmakers, the elected state superintendent of public schools, public and private university leaders and business leaders.
Chairmanship is shared by Buffalo Investments & Lafayette Farms President Anne Faircloth and Forsyth County Commission Chairman Dr. Don Martin. No set dates for meeting were established, according to a release and the executive order signed by Stein. The governor and General Assembly are to be updated by Dec. 31, the order says.
Taxpayers provide more money for education than any other part of the state budget. For fiscal year 2024-25, the figure was $17.9 billion; spending levels are the same for 2025-26 until a new state budget that was due July 1 is passed. First-term Democrat Mo Green is the elected superintendent leading the Department of Public Instruction.
The state has about 1.5 million schoolchildren and 90,000 public school educators.
“The educational opportunities in North Carolina open a world of possibilities for our citizens,” said Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, the president pro tempore of the upper chamber. “It’s imperative that we continue to work collaboratively to ensure North Carolinians have the skills they need to enter the workforce. We need everyone – business leaders, educators, and policymakers – to come together to meet the real-world needs of our students. I look forward to seeing the proposals this group suggests to improve educational outcomes for all students.”
House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said the talent and foundation is present.
“By bringing top educators, business leaders, and elected officials to the same table, this new commission will take an honest look at what’s working and what isn’t in our public schools,” Hall said. “I look forward to collaborating with them to strengthen schools across our state.”
Stein said opportunities to succeed are the goal of an excellent public schools system.
He added, “This commission represents a bipartisan commitment and an opportunity to make North Carolina’s public schools the best in the nation.”
From the General Assembly, the panel includes Sens. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake; Kevin Corbin, R-Macon; Dana Jones, R-Forsyth; Brad Overcash, R-Gaston; and Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford; and Reps. Cynthia Ball, D-Wake; Brian Biggs, R-Randolph; Tricia Cotham, R-Mecklenburg; Brandon Lofton, D-Mecklenburg; and David Willis, R-Union.
From the K-12 arena are Eric Davis, chairman of the State Board of Education; Teresa Branch, school board member of Caldwell County Schools; Matt Bristow-Smith, principal at Edgecombe Early College High School; Dr. Jonathan Bryant, chief administrator of Lincoln Charter; Dr. Del Burns, retired superintendent of Wake County Public School System; Dr. Jason Gardner, superintendent of Mooresville Graded School District; Lisa Godwin, a beginning teacher coach in Pender County Schools; Marisha Merchant, teacher for Onslow County Schools; and Dr. Robert Taylor, superintendent of Wake County Public School System.
From higher education, the panel includes Dr. Connie Book, president of Elon University, and Peter Hans, president of the University of North Carolina System.
Rounding out the 28 are Brenda Berg, president and CEO of BEST NC; Allen E. Gant Jr., chairman of Glen Raven, Inc.; Dr. Bill Harrison, chairman of the North Carolina Public School Forum; and Anna Spangler Nelson, chairwoman of Spangler Companies, Inc.
