NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Over 20 staff positions will be added back to New Hanover County Schools, paid with savings the district accumulated from its hiring freeze enacted earlier this year.
READ MORE: NHCS board continues with Chris Barnes in leadership role as interim superintendent
Interim Superintendent Christopher Barnes shared the news Tuesday with the board and spoke about insight gained from his districtwide listening tour. Over the last few months, Barnes has interviewed around 2,300 employees on the district’s rights and wrongs, plus asked for input on practices Barnes can implement immediately to change the culture a recent climate survey revealed to be toxic in the district.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks facing the schools, according to staff, is its budget.
“The fact that the ESSER [Covid-19 relief] funding ended but student needs did not is something we have to wrestle with every day,” Barnes told the board. “People losing their educators, last-minute budget cuts overwhelming staff, and obviously the words that our state allotments are not equal to the needs of our students.”
As part of the listening tour, Barnes also asked school leaders to list and prioritize their staffing needs. Their feedback led to the following positions being added back to the district:
- 13 EC teacher assistants
- 1 assistant principal to serve Bradley Creek and and Williams elementaries
- 1 additional counselor at Laney High School
- 1 planning period coverage
- 3 testing coordinators for Isaac Bear, Sea-Tech and Wilmington Early College
- 2 special education teachers
- 2 bus aides for Lake Forest and J.C. Roe
It will cost $1.13 million taken from the district’s fund balance of $2.3 million. Barnes said the savings are $1.2 million higher than estimated when the budget passed in June.
After years of using savings to balance its budget, the practice became untenable for the 2024-2025 school year as enrollment continued to decline without significant government funding boosts. NHCS was faced with cutting 279 employees, 170 of which were covered by expiring Covid-19 relief dollars.
For the rest, the district relied on attrition — employees leaving naturally without the district filling their positions — and implemented a hiring freeze for vacant positions. However, leadership promised to re-add positions using funds freed up throughout the year.
Barnes did tell the board that continuing to use fund balance to acquit the district of its budgetary problems cannot continue.
“It is my commitment that we will not take anything out of our fund balance this year,” he said. “However, I also think it’s important to make sure that we are not looking to put a lot in it right now with the staffing we have in our schools. So, basically, my mama taught me that found money gets spent, but it has to be done methodically, carefully and with a plan. So, hopefully, as we continue through this year, we’ll find savings that we can utilize to push out more.”
Barnes also made a commitment to mending district leadership’s relationship with its employees. He summarized his listening tour into several themes, one of which was trust.
“Teachers and staff felt like they were made to feel like they don’t know how to teach, that we weren’t asking for input before we were making decisions, and that when we micromanage people to degree, they lose trust — it sends a message that we don’t trust their ability to do the job,” Barnes said.
He added staff wanted decision-making to revolve around students, not political ideologies.
Over the last few years, the school board has implemented several policies with political leanings, one of which took language directly from a GOP-directed bill in the North Carolina General Assembly.
The policy, on staff professional conduct, states employees shall “ensure dignity and nondiscrimination in schools by not teaching students or compelling students, teachers, administrators, or other school employees to affirm or profess belief” in concepts related to racism or sexism. Critics were wary the language would curb historical teachings.
More recently, the district passed a policy change limiting classroom displays to curriculum and content supporting the federal, state and local government, leading many to believe the action was aimed at Pride flags.
A second theme along the listening tour, Barnes said, was the need for better transparency and communication at all levels of NHCS. He said employees want to know the reasons behind the decisions made and feel their input was heeded. Employees, per Barnes, also want more visibility from the board and executive leadership in schools.
Though most comments were critical of district leaders, staff also commented they were not being given enough time to implement curriculum changes before being evaluated.
The plan to get back on track, Barnes said, includes the addition of principals to cabinet meetings and avoiding decision-making without their feedback. The district is also working to increase communication with all stakeholders.
Barnes also recommended the board limit changes in policy, personnel and curriculum to reduce stress on staff and stimulate uninterrupted progress.
“Someone’s going to roll their eyes and say, ‘Well, that sounds good, but I don’t believe that it’s going to happen,’” Barnes said. “It will be foolish for me to explain to you or try to convince you that the work is done — the work can now get started. We now have the scope of the problem. This is just the beginning, and trust takes time to grow. What I’m asking for is the opportunity to prove to you that these things are our plans, and that just takes time.”
Barnes’ speech received loud applause from Tuesday’s audience.
Much of the feedback shared with Barnes mimics the criticism of the former superintendent, Charles Foust. He was ousted in July, the same meeting the results of the district’s disastrous climate survey were revealed, though the board has not offered an official reason for his firing.
Employees and community members said Foust was not a “personable” leader and they wished he would have visited schools more often — qualities Barnes has demonstrated over his three months, according to the school board.
“You’ve been accessible, you’ve been visible, and you listen, and then you do something about it, even if everyone doesn’t agree. I haven’t heard of a soul that didn’t agree with what you’re trying to do,” board member Hugh McManus said.
McManus then urged Barnes to consider staying on as the district’s permanent superintendent.
“I think you’ve built something, and I hate to see someone follow you who can do it and have to follow that,” McManus said.
Other board members echoed the praise.
“I have a friend as you know, who was with you many, many school districts ago, and this is the same character you demonstrated,” board member Pat Bradford said. “I appreciate what you’ve done greatly.”
“I really appreciate Dr. Barnes and your genuineness to discuss the intentionality that we are working towards — there’s always work to do,” board member Josie Barnhart said.
Reach journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com.
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