East Wake Times

The Wake County Public School System superintendent said that the latest proposed budget continues to fund the core beliefs that the district holds. 

In a letter from April, Superintendent Cathy Moore wrote that policymakers are unsure what to expect in the "next 30, 60 or 90 days — let alone the duration of the coming school year," but the core values remain intact. 

“Every student is uniquely capable and deserves to be challenged and engaged in relevant, rigorous and meaningful learning each day," Moore wrote on the district's website about the budget. 

Hearings on the budget will happen later in June, based on the district's projected timeline. 

The Wake County District school board proposed budget is $545.8 million for the 2020-2021 school year, which is a $29.9 million increase, according to information on the district website. 

"What this request represents, we believe, is a balance between our responsibilities to provide a sound, basic education and the significant uncertainties faced by the Wake County Board of Commissioners," school board chairman Ken Sutton wrote in a May 8 letter to the county commissioners. 

The $29.9 million budget increase is tied to a projected $18.4 million in legislative mandates, $2.1 million for property costs and $2.8 million for opening new schools, the superintendent wrote. 

"I would also like to highlight the largest single increase outside of legislative changes, which is a request for $6.7 million to help cover the costs of deferred operational needs," Sutton wrote in his letter. "Moore also noted that the district hasn't fully recovered from The Great Recession and has to account for COVID-19 financial impacts." 

Familiar issues still will remain after the pandemic, she wrote, such as class sizes. Moore finished the letter detailing the county’s accomplishments, including an 89.9% graduation rate and the exemplary performance of the teachers, with the county leading the nation in the number of Board Certified Teachers. She encourages the community to have hope for the shared visions and dreams of the future.