BY KARISSA MILLER
The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education approved a plan to cut $3 million from its proposed budget for 2025-2026 during Monday’s board meeting.
The school board voted unanimously to approve the proposed spending plan presented by Chief Finance Officer Adam Steele and other I-SS administrators at the Committee of the Whole meeting last week.
Under the approved plan, a dozen teaching positions will not be filled next school year, central office staff will be reduced, the virtual academy will close and more.
I-SS virtual academy parent Nithin Surendran, who spoke during the public comment period, asked the board to reconsider the recommendation to close the virtual academy at the end of the school year.
“It’s not just another program, but it’s a lifeline for students with unique and serious challenges. My child and others like them face circumstances that make traditional in-person school and learning extremely difficult,” Surendran said.
He explained that his daughter has a severe food allergy that makes it better for her to learn at home.
“For these students, it’s not a preference, but a necessity. One of the most critical components of this school is its commitment to synchronous learning, real-time instruction that connects students directly with students and peers. This is not passive or isolated online work, but it is deeply engaging,” he said.
The teachers have gone above and beyond, fostering relationships, building curiosity and supporting students both emotionally and academically, he added.
Board members expressed their reluctance to eliminate programs that help students and teachers.
“What hurts me the most is the handful of people who are affected through the daycare program. The numbers aren’t that great, but the impact is huge,” said board member Mike Kubiniec.
Other board members agreed.
Kubiniec complimented the staff for their “methodology and all the thought” they put into the reduced spending plan.
I-SS will have to rely on the district’s fund balance, which serves as a savings account, to balance the budget for the fourth consecutive year. In 2022-2023, the district relied on $266,000 from the fund balance, a number that increased to $585,000 in 2023-2024 and $1.5 million in 2024-2025.
Budget Cuts
• There will be a reduction of 12 teaching positions, which district officials emphasized will be done through attrition for a savings of $990,000.
• Four central office positions — including a student service position, a general maintenance position, an office support position and one coordinator position — have been cut. Additional changes in central office will save the district $660,032.
• The I-SS Virtual Academy will close at the end of the current school year, which will save $521,940. Students will still have the opportunity to receive virtual instruction through I-Academy or Virtual I-SS.
• A reduction in instructional supplies, school nutrition and building improvement will save the district $582,500.
• The district will reduce programs and IT software for a savings of $286,250.
• Total savings: $3,040,722
Maybe someone should direct this to Todd Carver so that he can see one of the real reasons teachers are leaving.
$1,800,000 over budget for contracted behavior support for our special needs children…yet…they won’t “help” the children the way they need UNTIL they have behavioral problems in class.
We wouldn’t be so far over budget if the district didn’t have a habit of forcing children to struggle to the point of triggering emotional crisis.
You can’t complain about being over budget in behavior support, WHEN YOU ARE WILLFULLY CREATING the need for more behavior support. 😡
Check the salaries of the district administrators, THEY ALL RECEIVED PAY INCREASES. Why do we have administrators over $200,000 a year?? Why do they deserve pay raises for furthering the decline of our public schools by restricting resources, not supporting their teachers, not following educational laws, etc.???
Our teachers deserve the pay increases!
Just watch, Iredell-Statesville Schools, your attrition rates will climb even higher! You are creating a hostile environment for both teachers and students.
I’m sure you guys will just expect the tablets to be the teachers, like you already push so forcefully. Teachers are irreplaceable! Y’all need to get out of your offices and actually back in the schools and work in the conditions you expect our teachers to work in. Most of you have been sitting in office for far too long and have clearly forgotten what teaching means. Our schools are not a place for political games!!!
No wonder we have so many poorly performing schools!
I agree totally.
Just more proof: the only thing that matters is them having power with no accountability at the expense of our kids. Amber Ford, you are correct.
Will our kids ever matter? I’m curious.
Girl Preach!!! We need to become friends! The way they are treating my child! Omg! It’s like they don’t know what a simple IEP is!
The Iredell School District is among the worst run we’ve experienced in many years.
North Carolina must get serious about the public education system. DOGE where are you?
Administrators will not give up on their cushy benefits and will continue to be overpaid.
Teachers are treated like uneducated fools, it’s disgusting!
Shame on the State and the County administration.