NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A substitute teacher for New Hanover County Schools, Republican Nikki Bascome is campaigning for one of three seats open in the 2024 race for the New Hanover County Schools Board of Education.
READ MORE: What to expect when voting in NC during the 2024 election season
This is Bascome’s first time running a political race to become a public servant.
“I am seeking this position in the hopes to start bringing together a better sense of calm,” Bascome said. “I also feel we have allowed unqualified candidates into these positions who create policies and make decisions for what happens in our classrooms daily without ever having step foot into a classroom. Yes, it has become politicized but we have allowed it. Instead of looking at the reputation and qualifications of a candidate, we look at their political party affiliation. I would like to see this turned around. I would like to step into this role and show that, first, nice can get things done and, second, we can do what is best for our educators, students, and families without politics.”
The candidate cites better support for staff, strengthening curricula that meets educational needs and mending the disconnect between the classroom and administration and board as her top concerns. Bascome faces off against Republicans Natosha Tew and David Perry, as well as Democratic candidates Tim Merrick, Judy Justice and Jerry Jones.
| What Nikki Bascome is… • Listening to: I sing in a backyard bluegrass band so mostly bluegrass and country. I do like to listen to just about anything depending on the mood of the day. • Watching: I don’t watch much TV. • Reading: A lot of school board meeting transcripts. In all seriousness, I am in between “Mother to Mother” by Sindiwe Magona and “Saving Fish From Drowning” by Amy Tan. • Name something about yourself that readers would be surprised to learn: I am in the NC Surfing Hall of Fame. |
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Absentee ballots are already being mailed and early voting opens mid-October. Locations include:
- Carolina Beach Town Hall, 1121 N. Lake Boulevard
- CFCC Downtown Campus, Health Sciences Building, 415 N. Second St.
- Future NHC Board of Elections, 226 Government Dr.
- Northeast Regional Library, David Poynter Room, 1241 Military Cutoff Rd.
- NHC Senior Resource Center, Multipurpose Room, 2222 S. College Rd.
Voters will be able to cast ballots at any of the above places and even register to vote beforehand on Oct. 17-18, Oct. 21-25, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27, noon – 5 p.m., and Nov. 2, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Election Day is Nov. 5, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m. All voters will have to go to their precinct to cast a ballot, as shown on their voter registry.
An ID must be presented to cast a ballot in the election. Acceptable forms of ID include NC drivers license or state ID, U.S. passport, college or student university ID, some state employee IDs and out-of-state drivers license or ID, as long as voter registration was done within 90 days of the election. IDs not in good standing can be expired by one year or less.
Port City Daily has compiled candidate questionnaires so voters can read up on contenders’ stances before heading to the polls this election season. All answers have been edited only for clarity; the candidates’ opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily.
The paywall is dropped on profiles to help voters make informed decisions ahead of the election.
Port City Daily: What makes you right for the job?
Nikki Bascome: What makes me right for this position is my 30 years of educational experience in NHC. I was the first five-star in-home childcare facility in NHC, a training site for the Early Childhood Rating Scale, consultant for Smart Start of NHC where I developed and implemented trainings on age appropriate and developmentally appropriate practices, positive discipline techniques, and curriculum writing. I have volunteered for Surfers Healing Autism Foundation for 19 years and 4 years as director. In this role I was tasked with identifying the strengths of our volunteers and putting them in positions to highlight those strengths. As a volunteer in this grassroots organization, I had to learn to not only be frugal but run our organization with fidelity. I also had the responsibility to build and foster community relationships. As a substitute teacher in NHCS I have shown to be dedicated and professional, offering a helping hand in any way possible and going into any classroom situation without hesitation. I feel these experiences (and some I have not listed) make me highly qualified for this position.
PCD: Why are you seeking this position and what makes you right for the job? Name an issue you struggle to find a solution for that affects your district and how have/would you go about determining a path forward? If you have a personal anecdote to share that has helped guide you in deciding how to move forward, please, share.
NB: Of course, it’s the politization of our board but, outside of that, I struggle to understand the contrast between our high- and low-performing schools in our district. I’d really like to bring together support staff who have worked hard to accomplish the turn around in some of our low performing schools, analyze and identify how the turn around was accomplished. Not all low performing schools have the same issues and not all low performing schools can be addressed in same manner. I would like to bring together our student voices, teacher voices, and family advisory council so they can bring forth common or unknown issues to the board. While on the Family Advisory Council I found out REAL quick that I was in my bubble of my own school. I relied too much on social media or misinformation farmed out to the masses to show me what was going on in the other schools. This is why I feel so passionately about bringing these groups that are IN the schools all together.
PCD: The district’s recent climate survey and town hall feedback shows many teachers are requesting a separation of politics from the classroom. Can you talk about three issues you’re campaigning on and what evidence you’ve gathered to indicate this need for change?
NB: I agree that so much revolving around our schools has become too politicized. Unfortunately, I have been told numerous times it is the “nature of the beast” when you have a partisan elected board. I really wish our community would look at the qualifications and experience of a candidate versus their political party. Until we can do that as a whole, it will remain politicized.
The climate survey spells out for us the top issues which are also the issues I had pointed out months ago.
- Staff do not feel supported. This is something I witnessed as a substitute teacher.
- Our curriculum does not meet the educational needs of our students and takes much of our educators autonomy away. Our students lose the benefit of teachable moments.
- There is a disconnect between classrooms and the admin/school board. Another point I witnessed as a substitute but also on family advisory council.
PCD: What are your priorities when it comes to the school board’s oversight of the budget and how would you improve upon the budget-making process?
NB: Our first priority is to find the right superintendent able to manage a complex and large district budget such as ours. This superintendent must be willing and able to accurately present the budget and any issues to the school board in a timely manner, willing and able to answer the boards questions no matter how difficult, and be able to make adjustments as necessary. As a school board member, I must ensure our superintendent is completing these tasks and ready to follow-up when in doubt.
PCD: NHCS’ attrition rate has increased in recent years; the most recent data shows an increase by 3 percentage points to 12%, which is higher than the state average. What do you think has caused attrition to rise and what is your plan for retaining staff within NHCS?
NB: From what I am reading on the climate survey, it is largely due to lack of support, lack of educator autonomy, and the politicization that has caused so many to leave this profession. I would like to see our board and administration being more supportive, being IN the halls and classrooms helping, with educator assistance, research a curriculum that leads to more opportunities for autonomy so teachers can have the natural “teachable moments” again. I’m also trying very hard to keep political rhetoric out of our schools and be the example for staff to follow, leaving politics and assumptions at the threshold and professionally carry the job at hand.
PCD: The district held a town hall meeting with employees in August where staff were asked to give their honest feedback on superintendent qualities, student behavior and district climate. WHQR recently reported an employee was referred to HR for their comments made at the town hall and this employee sees the referral as proof of district retaliation — something addressed in the climate survey this year as to why people don’t speak out. Do you think the board and NHCS is doing enough to support employees’ honest feedback? What would you do to mend this relationship?
NB: I feel that respectful dialogue is crucial to understanding a better path forward. More opportunities for town halls but also bringing together the 3 groups more often (student voices, teacher voices, and family advisory) will help everyone start respectful conversations before anything hits crisis or boiling point.
PCD: As the district searches for a superintendent, what will you evaluate candidates on to ensure the best hire for the district? Many are concerned about politics also playing into this hire; how will you maintain a bi-partisan approach in finding the best candidate?
NB: As volunteer coordinator and then director of a successful non-profit for 19 years, I have had the unique opportunity to assess and evaluate many demographics of volunteers, figuring out where their experience and talents will be of the best and most productive use. I have not ever asked nor did we care their political views. Do the task at hand and do it well. This is what I will look for in a superintendent. Someone who is well versed in budgeting for a district our size, able to see and value a staff member’s talents, ready to listen to what our staff have to say before jumping in and making changes, someone who can not only listen to constructive criticism but make necessary adjustments, and willing to make a consorted effort to work with all school board members. We need someone who can walk in, be a professional, do the job at hand, and leave political rhetoric and agendas at the threshold.
PCD: NHCS has a list of much-needed capital projects, especially for the aging New Hanover High School. Capital funding from county commissioners is tight, which has implications on student safety, overcrowding and academic success. As a board member, how would you prioritize capital funding among types of projects and among schools with limited funds? Do you support a bond to pay for some of these bigger capital needs?
NB: Priority will definitely be put on any structures that pose a health and/or safety threat to students and staff. I would support a bond if suggested and supported by county commissioners.
PCD: Educators have reported more behavioral issues since the Covid-19 pandemic and cellphone use as concerning issues cited by middle and high school teachers. Can you outline steps you would take to address student discipline needs in the district and any ideas or plans you think are worth exploring to reduce student discipline complaints.
NB: We have policies in place to address behavioral issues. Parents are made aware and students are taught the expected standards of behavior as per policy 4302. From the climate survey and from my personal interviews with former staff, admins, as well as SROs, these policies are not being followed consistently. Some are not being upheld at the school level and some are not upheld at the administration level. I once asked a staff member about dress code enforcement at a local high school and was told “we pick our battles.” I would have to assume this stemmed from the lack of support this staff member felt. I feel this issue could be addressed with the hiring of a superintendent determined to protect the safety and well-being of students and staff, creating an atmosphere conducive to learning, and providing follow through of age and developmentally appropriate, logical and natural consequences for student behaviors, both good and bad.
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