The fact that the WSFCS school board reversed its decision on the 2026-2027 school calendar shows a variety of truths.
The first is that the board listens more to the perceived threats from a state statute than it does from the very people who elected them. When they originally decided on a calendar, they went against the overwhelming majority of people’s wishes.
The second is that pushback and vocal opposition works. When voices cone together and work in synchronicity to affect action, results can happen quickly.
The last is that it exposes the incredibly ignorant NC law that stipulates the start and stop dates for public schools across the entire state.
According to the Education Commission of the States:
Obviously NC is one of those 15 states. But there are other distinctions that make NC’s law so egregious.
One is that North Carolina is the country that does not have a new budget.
And there is not much that would make that change this calendar year.
An estimated 8.3 million U.S. workers in 19 states received an increase in their minimum-wage pay either on New Year’s Day or will sometime during 2026.
None of them will be North Carolinians.
That’s because, for the 17th consecutive year, minimum-wage workers in North Carolina did not receive a pay raise upon the arrival of the new year.
Republican legislative leaders continue to show no interest in Democratic-sponsored minimum-wage legislation. Four Senate and three House bills were shelved upon filing during the 2025 session.
School calendar flexibility is a must in this state for all school systems.
They need to have the ability as local school systems to be able to have exams done before the winter break instead of having the “fall” semester end the day before Groundhog Day.
They need to have the flexibility to not have to consider forgiving days of school because of weather and other natural occurrences.
They need to have the flexibility to allow for schools to plan for professional development and workdays that actually help teachers prepare.
They need to have flexibility to allow schools to not have to start classes until after two football games have been played.
It has been an open secret that the tourism industry lobbied hard for getting the law for a later school start date to “preserve” prime opportunities for profit.
Wonder if that industry has lobbied for a higher minimum wage in this state?
caffeinated rage 