Amid coronavirus cuts, NC must protect K-12 funding to prepare for an enrollment surge

School funding

As the COVID-19 crisis forces the governor and legislature to negotiate cuts to state programs, one area that must be protected is K-12 public education.

Some parents of children attending private schools were already making major sacrifices to keep their children in those schools. Now, many of them are unemployed. Private schools are reporting re-enrollment shortfalls of 15% to 20%. Most of the shortfall are children who will show up as new enrollees in public schools when August rolls around.

Based on N.C. Fiscal Research Division figures we are probably looking at our public schools needing more than $100 million extra next year. If we are fortunate, some of these private-school families will choose homeschooling next year. That will cost the state nothing, but our state leaders should not plan for a $100 million problem to fix itself while cutting needed funding.

Bartley Danielsen,

NCSU Associate Professor of Finance

Hate and bigotry

In the midst of this global pandemic, we all feel worried, unsure, maybe alone. Some have used this time in history to express their hate, bigotry and racism.

The FBI places the growing risk of violence from hate groups “on the same footing” as threats posed to the country by foreign terrorist organizations such as ISIS and its sympathizers.

Earlier this month two Georgia men were charged with murder in the death of a black jogger shot multiple times. Behavior like this is on the rise. The FBI’s domestic hate crime statistics bare out that uncomfortable reality. We must tackle this problem head-on and urgently. Unite our country!

Sam Robinson, Raleigh

Release inmates

Regarding Ned Barnett “Prisoners deserve protection from COVID-19,” (May 12 Opinion):

I strongly agree about the need to release people from N.C. prisons.. Elders, people charged with parole violations, those who are near their release date or very ill should be release immediately. They should not be condemned to death for these violations.

Gov. Roy Cooper and the prison system must act with compassion and common sense and release these people.

Gail S. Phares, Raleigh

Nursing homes

The number of deaths that have occurred in nursing homes is absolutely unacceptable.

Our parents are in their 90s, with underlying health issues. They’ve been residents at Windsor Point in Fuquay-Varina for many years. We cannot say enough about the care they’ve been given. When this virus started, the facility immediately took action to protect residents and staff. We can see our parents through a window, which is fine as we know they are protected. We thank the staff so much for caring for our loved ones.

Beth Becker, Apex

Remove Trump

Under President Trump the federal government has implemented no coherent or systematic plans for fighting the pandemic. He has silenced key members of the Center for Disease Control and shoved aside his coronavirus task force even as the virus death toll continues to mount.

This president is a clear and present danger to the country. Even if Trump loses the November election he will remain in office until mid-January – nine months from now. The 25th Amendment to the Constitution gives Congress the right to declare the president unfit for office, as is clearly the case. It is now time for the Senate, with the concurrence of the House, to remove the president to protect the lives of all Americans.

The time to enact Section 4 of the 25th Amendment is now.

Howard Partner, Durham

NC census response

The importance of the U.S. census cannot be overstated. It determines how many representatives each state has in the U.S. House and many federal programs allocate funds based on population.

North Carolina is lagging in its response, which could jeopardize our right to a 14th representative in the House. As of April 24, less than half (48%) of the state’s estimated population had responded, compared to the national average of 53%. Only four N.C. counties were above the national average. Some in the eastern and western N.C. were at 30%. Two of the most populated counties were below the national average: Durham at 49%, Mecklenburg at 52%.

Let’s get with it!

There is no citizenship question on the census, despite attempts to add one. All responses are confidential, so everyone should respond. Go to my2020census.gov to complete the form in five minutes. Not replying online forces the Census Bureau to send an enumerator to your home. That incurs considerable taxpayer expense, as well as risks spread of the virus.

Richard Bilsborrow

Professor, UNC Carolina Population Center

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 1:57 PM.