
RALEIGH — The State Board of Education discussed its legislative agenda and priorities at its first meeting of 2025.
The State Board of Education’s (NCBOE) 2025 priorities are similar to the priorities list previously put forth by the body and include calendar flexibility, teacher retention strategies, principal support, raising teacher and principal pay, and revamping the school performance grading system.
The NCBOE discussed reinstating additional pay for teachers who earn master’s degrees. The idea of “advanced” roles within teaching with a clear career advancement path, proposed in the past by former State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, was included.
Additionally, the need for expanded professional development, stronger mental health support systems and a comprehensive mentoring program were mentioned for teacher retention.
Materials presented suggested that principal salaries should be structured to exceed the highest teacher pay scale by 25%, with additional considerations for school complexity and experience. Similarly, it was argued that principals should be shielded from unexpected pay reductions.
Dedicated support and mentoring were suggested for new principals, as was a “Principal Working Conditions Survey” to better gauge support needs and trends.
Additionally, it was proposed that every school should get state funding for at least one assistant principal and that additional positions could be allocated based on student population, with the specific example of one assistant principal per 500 students.
The board also discussed making a $2.5 million legislative request to the General Assembly for internet needs, as well as Wi-Fi and ethernet equipment for public schools in its School Connectivity Initiative Report. That report has already been sent to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee for consideration.
Per the report, the state “utilizes the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate program to the fullest extent possible and is a leading recipient of FCC funding on a per-student basis.”
The $2.5 million request discussed by the board involves FCC changes in 2025 that will require an approximate additional recurring state funding total to maximize federal E-Rate program benefits for Wi-Fi and ethernet equipment in schools.
The report’s key recommendations for legislative actions needed to maintain School Connectivity Initiative services in North Carolina include a major concern over cybersecurity funding over the termination of $14 million in nonrecurring funds issued during the pandemic that helped prevent ransomware attacks. Only $5 million in recurring funding remains for email threat detection, which the report argues leaves schools vulnerable to other security risks.
Concerns are also raised in the report about districts in the western half of the state that need to renew their fiber network agreements, particularly following Hurricane Helene’s impact.
The board also welcomed new State Superintendent Mo Green, who gave remarks on his swearing-in, his vision for the state’s K-12 public schools and “entry plan,” as well as touching on his department’s reorganization with the hiring of Maria Pitre-Martin as deputy superintendent and Geoff Coltrane as senior director of government affairs.
Green highlighted his vision for success as one that depends on transparency, accountability, and collaboration. He said his vision for achieving educational excellence was inspired by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote, “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.”
Green identified six pillars of focus, including preparing every child for their future, revering educators and ensuring safe learning environments.
His plan also invites input from stakeholders through a “Mo Wants to Know” initiative, which encourages feedback on both successes and areas needing improvement. Green closed his remarks by reading the poem “The Promise,” written by Misti Williams.