New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley believes buy-in from all stakeholders is requisite for any successful school district.
That continued support–and a need for more in the coming fiscal year–was the focus of a district-sponsored legislative breakfast with local and state lawmakers Tuesday morning.
“There is good work going on in our schools, and it couldn’t go on without the help of people in this room today,” Markley told the audience, which included district teachers, principals and administrators, as well as New Hanover County school board members, county commissioners, law enforcement and state representatives.
Looking back, Markley applauded several forward-thinking forms of backing from the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, including a 5 percent operating increase in local funding for the current fiscal year, increased capital funding for facilities and technology and support for student resource officers (SROs) in the elementary schools.
“When the state budget comes in and it’s not what we thought it would be, you guys have stepped in to fill the gap,” Markley said to County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield and commission Vice-Chairwoman Beth Dawson.
In 2014-15, Markley said the district would be asking county commissioners to help boost teacher salaries, possibly filling in any gap left by the state’s decision on pay increases.
“I have always been a great supporter of our teachers,” Barfield said. “I am supportive of teacher supplements. To attract the best and the brightest, you have to pay them.”
New Hanover County Board of Education chairman Don Hayes agreed, summing it up simply.
“We are all in this together,” Hayes said. “These are all our kids.”
