Page 8 - The Fayetteville Press Newspaper June & July 2025 Edition

Page 8 The Fayetteville Press June/July 2025 Edition

Editorial / Opinion

The Fayetteville Press Newspaper welcomes letters from its readers. All letters must be signed and must include a home address and a daytime phone number.
All letters are subject to editing. We will not publish unsigned or pseudonymous letters.
Mail or E-mail your letters to: The Fayetteville Press Newspaper, P.O. Box 9166, Fayetteville NC 28311
E-mail: fayepress@aol.com

Isn’t Our Children’s Education Worth the Fight?

Summer is here and our children are thrilled services to all children—regardless of
private schools
private schools
private schools
to be out of school; teachers are cleaning their background. While private schoolsprivate schools
receiving public vouchers do not bear
receiving public vouchers do not bear
receiving public vouchers do not bear
receiving public vouchers do not bear
classrooms and packing material to store for the receiving public vouchers do not bear
the same responsibilities
the same responsibilities
the same responsibilities, they now receive
the same responsibilities
hiatus, so their classrooms may be cleaned during the same responsibilities
this summer break. This summer also means our hundreds of millions of public dollars. The Fayetteville Press
elected officials from our congressional members to The NC General Assembly is using public Newspaper
state legislators, and city councilmembers to county monies for private schools while not fully funding “Your Community Newspaper”
commissioners are beginning their work of finalizing public schools. Inadequate funding of our public P.O. Box 9166
a budget for our state and county schools. Current schools is not new if one also considers the Leandro Fayetteville * NC 28311
legislation already has our public schools at a deficit Case. Cumberland County is one of five low wealth
as School Opportunity Scholarships or vouchers may counties that filed a lawsuit in 1994, alleging that North (910) 323-3120 - Office
siphon funding from an already strained budget. Carolina had failed to provide a sound basic education www.fayettevillepress.com
E-mail:
Vouchers are not new. They were initiated in as provided for in the NC Constitution. In 2022, fayepress@aol.com
North Carolina in 2013. Its original intent was to allow twenty-eight years later, the NC Supreme Court ruled
educational opportunities for low-income families to that the NC General Assembly must uphold the NC
enroll their children in private schools—to “opt out” Constitution of providing a sound basic education and *Publisher - JJ Jones
of attending a public school. The voucher system By James E. Buxton, Jr. President stated that the state was to release over $1.7 billion *General Manager
allows families to use public funds for private 910-824-7504 - Fayetteville NAACP to be used for paying for programs for students in Chrystal M. Thomas
school tuition. pre-K to high school as well as pay for teachers and
• Lack of Accountability: Private schools that principals. However, the General Assembly approved
Of course, there were stipulations: Students’ receive voucher funds are not subject to the same half of the NC Supreme Court’s order. It continued *Sales Manager
Dwight Brown
families needed to have incomes below a certain transparency, certification, or accountability to dispute the remaining $678 million. Two years later,
threshold, typically aligning with eligibility for the requirements as public schools. in 2024, the NC Supreme Court heard arguments *Editor - Jae McKrae
Federal Free and Reduced-priced lunch (FRL) • Equity Concerns: Public schools serve all students, from state lawmakers to reverse its 2022 ruling. As
program. Additionally, students had to have been including those with disabilities, low-income of February 2025, the Supreme Court still has not
enrolled in a public school for at least one year before backgrounds, and English language learners. issued a final ruling on the dispute. Students in low- *Special Corespondent
Queen Degraphenrei
being eligible for a voucher. The voucher pays for Private schools can often set admissions criteria wealth, rural, and racially diverse districts continue
tuition and other fees to attend a private school, K- that exclude these populations. to face major funding disparities. Staff Writer
12. Shelia Mclaughlin
The Education Law Center ranked North By not sufficiently funding our public schools,
Initially limited by income, the North Carolina Carolina #48 in per pupil funding in 2022; it spent $11,777 we have both underpaid educators and widespread *Photgrapher
General Assembly (NCGA) removed income caps per pupil which is $4,868 lower than the national average. vacancies for counselors, psychologists, and social Bruce Carpenter
in 2023, making the program universally accessible; workers to address escalating mental health issues
the NCGA also allocated an additional $463.5 million We all want our children to attend schools that among our children, outdated finance and *Account Executives
toward private school vouchers. Remember, the will not just educate but support them academically. The accountability systems, and insufficient investment in Dr. Don Reid
voucher system uses public funds for private school premise of the opportunity scholarship is the word early childhood education.
tuition. opportunity. It suggests that parents have a choice to select *Distribution
which school their child attends; however, some Instead of accepting of this situation, Michael Dykes
Where does that leave our public schools? Cumberland County parents are not able to opt-in to this we as parents, community members, and Nero B. Coleman

In Fayetteville and across North Carolina, program. Not all families are able to send their children to stakeholders must be present in rooms where * Graphic Designed By
budget discussions are taking place and call
the Opportunity Scholarship Program has become a private schools, so their children attend school within their upon our elected officials to ensure our Joe McGee
growing concern for public education advocates. district because they are unable to provide transportation, children have the necessary items to be
Specifically, Cumberland County received $18 million because of their work schedule, or because of other successful. If you are unable to attend the *Staff Chaplain
in opportunity scholarship funds for the 2023–2024 reasons. This does not mean they expect fewer services Cumberland County School Board meetings Bishop
year alone. These funds come directly from the state’s for their children. All deserve a quality education which in person, watch it as it is televised; call or meet Larry O. Wright, Jr.
education budget—every dollar spent on vouchers means public schools need to be funded at a level that with your district’s school board member; call
is a dollar not spent on public schools. helps to recruit and retain qualified teachers, implements E-Mail:
and maintains programs that have demonstrated or email your NC Senator and NC fayepress@aol.com
Critics argue this system undermines the public improvement in student achievement, provides the Representative to discuss your concerns of Web-Site
school system in several ways: availability of consistent student support systems (i.e. underfunded public education.
trained social workers, nurses, and psychologists), and www.fayettevillepress.com
We must fight for our public
We must fight for our public
We must fight for our public
We must fight for our public
• Loss of Funding: Vouchers reduce the are structurally and environmentally sound. We must fight for our public For
schools
schools
schools—to fully fund them, to ensure that
schools
already strained budgets of public schools, schools Subscriptions
especially in under-resourced districts. Public Schools every child in North Carolina has access to a
Public Schools
Public Schools provide certified
Public Schools
Public Schools
sound, equitable, and high-quality education. Call
educators, transportation, meals, and inclusive
(910) 323-3120
Safety Tips for Summer Fun
Hello summer! We are so happy to see you. Even though summer can be a lot of fun, there are certain precautions and safety measures that
should be followed. Please take heed to these important safety tips:
Basic Summer Safety Tips
1. Stay hydrated. Be sure to have your child drink plenty of liquids throughout the day.
2. Protect your skin. Use sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or higher before going outside.
3. Protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses when you are outside to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
4. Limit your time in the sun. The sun’s rays are most intense from 10 am – 2 pm.
Heat Safety
1. Heat stroke- occurs when the body’s ability to sweat fails and your body temperature rises to a dangerous level quickly.
2. Heat exhaustion- occurs when the body loses an excessive amount of salt and water.
3. Heat cramps- muscle spasms that affect the legs or abdominals after physical activity. Excessive sweating reduces salt levels in the body
resulting in heat cramps.
Swimming Safety
1. There should always be adult supervision when children are swimming.
2. Never swim alone as an adult.
3. Never try to save someone by jumping in yourself. Throw them objects they can hold on to.
4. Learn how to swim. Children should start swimming lessons as soon as possible. Children should wear swim vests to help them stay afloat
in the water.
By Dr. Shanessa Fenner, Principal 5. Never swim when there is lightning or a thunderstorm.
Boating Safety
1. Always wear a life jacket and everyone in the boat should have a life jacket too.
2. Do not drive a boat under the influence of alcohol.
3. Watch or listen for inclement weather.
4. Know the procedures and protocol if the boat capsizes or someone falls overboard.
5. Keep a safe distance from swimmers and other boaters.
Insect Safety
1. Use a bug spray that contains DEET or a naturally derived product. Consult your child’s pediatrician before using these products on them.
2. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to protect you from ticks and mosquitos.
3. Check frequently for ticks if you are outside and in the woods.
4. See a doctor if you have symptoms of Lyme Disease (ticks) and those symptoms include fever, aches, and fatigue. Symptoms of Rocky
Mounted Spotted Fever (ticks) include fever, aches, nausea, and vomiting.
Have a safe, fun, and happy summer!