Governor Roy Cooper champions public schools at State Board of Education meeting

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Governor Roy Cooper is continuing to champion public schools.

On Thursday, he took his “Year of Public Schools” initiative to the State Board of Education.

“Bottom line is North Carolina public schools rock…they do,” Governor Cooper told state education leaders.

He called on the need for more funding for schools, better teacher pay, and the impact of public schools on rural communities.

“We risk losing great teachers when they’re underpaid and under appreciated,” said Cooper.

He also took aim at private school vouchers.

Cooper told the board while he’s not against them, he is concerned about taxpayer money going to private schools at the expense of public schools.

“Based on an analysis by the office of state management and budget, our public schools could lose $200 million in state funding in just the first year of voucher expansion,” said Cooper. “That’s wrong, particularly when most private schools are not better than our public schools.”

His comments had some pushback from Lieutenant Governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, who was also at the meeting.

“What struck me the most is the amount of conversations that I have had with parents who have gotten the vouchers that have literally transformed their children’s lives,” said Robinson. ” I’ve heard a lot about the public education system. I’m concerned about the students and the parents inside that system…and I’m not concerned so much about a sound, basic education. What we want is excellence.”

Both did agree on finding solutions to teacher pay issues.

Governor Cooper also spent the day visiting staff and students at Hertford County Early College High School in Ahoskie, North Carolina.

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