South Raleigh News

Governor Roy Cooper visited Hall Fletcher Elementary School as part of “The Year of Public Schools” education tour, where he emphasized the importance of fully funding K-12 education and investing in early childhood education and teacher pay. Cooper expressed his concerns regarding the current state spending on vouchers for private schools, urging for a focus on strengthening public education first.

“Our public schools are going above and beyond to prepare North Carolina's students for a competitive future, but they are losing crucial funding and being forced to do more with less,” Governor Cooper stated during his visit to Hall Fletcher Elementary School.

Principal Carrie Buchanan of Hall Fletcher Elementary School expressed gratitude for the Governor's dedication to public schools, highlighting the impact of quality education on students from Pre-K to 5th grade. Asheville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Maggie Fehrman emphasized the vital role of public school teachers in providing students with a high-quality education and stressed the importance of increasing teacher pay to retain and attract talented educators.

Governor Cooper's focus on North Carolina's strong public schools aims to showcase the positive effects of a well-funded public education system on the state's economy and communities, while also shedding light on the risks of underfunding schools in favor of private school voucher programs.

Despite the successes of public education in Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools, Republican legislators have been criticized for policies that undermine public education, such as expanding the private school voucher program. This expansion could result in significant funding losses for public schools, impacting both students and the local workforce.

As Governor Cooper concludes his final year in office, he remains committed to advocating for strong public schools and listening to communities across the state who recognize the vital link between quality education and thriving communities.