WAKE COUNTY SCHOOL LEADERS RALLY AGAINST HB 10, CALL FOR VETO SUPPORT AMID VOUCHER CONTROVERSY
By Talia Wren
Published September 27, 2024
he veto of House Bill 10, a piece of legislation set to funnel significant state funds into private school vouchers, has stirred a potent defense from Wake County Public School leaders. Governor Roy Cooper's veto of the controversial bill, cited by critics as a potential underminer of public school stability, is now in the limelight as local educational figures call for bipartisan support to uphold it. According to ABC 11, Wake County School Board Chair Chris Heagarty expressed sharp resistance to HB 10, terming it a "raw deal for families."
Supporters of the bill, such as Mike Long with Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, advocate the idea that "Parents know what's best for their child," asserting that HB 10 is intended to "invest in students more than systems," according to a statement he gave to ABC 11.
Meanwhile, opponents worry about the wider implications for public education. In a statement obtained by WRAL, Heagarty said, "We can’t let this bill become law and destabilize our already underfunded schools without speaking out."
At the heart of the contention is approximately $463.5 million in funds earmarked for so-called Opportunity Scholarships. Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor and Wake County school leaders orchestrated a press conference as reported by WRAL, expounding their concerns over how redirecting these funds could lead to a loss of several million dollars for public institutions, potentially affecting resources, staff compensation, and the overall quality of education.
Additional worries include the loss of support for public schools as families may shift their involvement to private institutions, as Heagarty mentioned in an interview with CBS 17. "We’ve seen families that have supported PTAs and athletic programs pull their students, pull their support from those schools and we’ve seen those schools suffer. And the idea that there will be more opportunities for that kind of flight scares us. It scares me," Heagarty said.