Jennifer Job, District 8

I heard about the Leandro decision just after getting out of a budget preview meeting for WCPSS.

It is unprecedented for the NCSC to rehear a case like that, and it is heartbreaking that they broke this paradigm just to further the harm that the NC assembly has been doing to our children by refusing to fully fund public education as our constitution requires.

The Senate President's argument is that the courts have no place in budget decision for the state. If that is true, then the NCGA must step up and dig us out of being 50th in the nation for public school funding. We are working with thousands of dollars less per student than comparable districts, and while money can't solve every problem, not having enough of it sure creates more of them.

NC Leandro case timeline: 32 years of legal battles over a ‘sound basic education’ The long-running Leandro school lawsuit has seen the courts struggle with how to fund public schools.

I had the best time reading to Ms. Horvat's kindergarten class today at Holly Grove Elementary School for Read Across America! The kids were just amazing, and they love books, which is wonderful. Keep up the good work, HGES!

Happy Passover to all who celebrate!

No cuts to special ed.

“But board members said being within state ratios won’t matter if it puts more stress on overworked teachers. Board member Jennifer Job, a former teacher, said a higher caseload will lead to worse services for special education students and affect IEP implementation. “We’re talking about teachers who are working in superhuman ways,” Job said. “They have a finite amount of time in the day.”“

Read more at:

Wake to drop $18M special ed cut that would have cut 130 teaching positions Superintendent Robert Taylor will come up with alternative ways to replace the $18 million in special ed reductions.

There is a lot to unravel here, and I encourage you to watch. But the long and short of it is that there is not just one answer to this problem, and we will not solve it on the backs of the students who need us most.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lNEeFsZ5Ohg&fbclid=IwRlRTSAQwFhJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEelZ1gWBEJHGP4izLgQA23eoZPgzQad4yuQiPATpf93WmfLYT7pZ0CXBEfEY4_aem_bUrwVLjvWLTufVOdn0DknQ

2026-03-24 Special Called Board Meeting 2026-03-24

On Tuesday, the WCPSS school board will gather for a special meeting to discuss the budget, specifically for special education.

I have heard from many parents and teachers since the communication identifying an $18 million shortfall in special education and possible loss of 130 positions. Many parents are terrified that their children won’t be getting the services they need to succeed, and teachers who are already burned out are concerned their caseloads will be increased. We must listen to them. I will be going into this meeting with clear goals:

1) The public deserves a transparent explanation of how this shortfall happened and how we are being held accountable.

2) The board must have consensus around the fact that not only is special education a legal requirement, it is essential for successful education of all students, not just the ones receiving services. Kids with the right supports to meet their potential bolster the entire classroom; classrooms with kids who aren’t having their needs met aren’t conducive to learning for anyone.

3) We must look at every possible option to fill this need without burdening teachers more or cutting services.

I encourage everyone available to either tune in on YouTube or attend in person.

One of the main programs our organization supports is our yearly teacher grant awards. This year, we were thrilled to award and fund 16 grants to teachers who applied at our Apex WCPSS campuses. The total funded was over $30,195! Through a series of posts in the coming weeks, we will recognize the winning initiatives, and how they will impact classrooms and students in the 2026-2027 school year. Congratulations to all!

📣Up next is the Zen Den - A Mental Wellness Space for Students in Need Program. Awarded to Kathy Hines and Jennifer Larsen-Neumann, of Felton Grove High, the program will establish a sensory-friendly “Zen Den” where students can decompress and regulate emotions in a quiet, safe, supervised setting. The goal is to promote mental wellness, reduce stress, and help students return to their classrooms ready to engage and succeed.

Congrats ladies! 📚🏆

Schools don't run on rainbows and puppies -- they run on taxes. The state legislature refuses to fund schools the way they're supposed to, and now they want to limit Wake County's ability to pay for schools, too.

NC lawmakers to propose constitutional amendment on limiting property taxes A proposed constitutional amendment would ask voters to limit the ability of cities and counties around North Carolina to raise property taxes. And a proposed bill would limit property tax exemptions for affordable housing projects.

🚨 ALERT: All WCPSS schools will be closed for students on Monday, March 16

All Wake County Public School System schools will be closed for students tomorrow, Monday, March 16, due to inclement weather. Monday will be a teacher workday for staff.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/474707v

Sign up today!

Join us March 20-21 at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High for the Family and Community Engagement Summit featuring the State of the Schools Address. This two-day event is free and open to all members of our school community. The Summit will bring together families, educators, and community partners for:
✨ Engaging seminars,
🎓 Professional learning opportunities,
🎤 Inspiring keynote speakers, and
🏫 The annual State of the Schools Address from Superintendent Robert P. Taylor

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the work happening across our schools. View the schedule of events and register today: https://bit.ly/FACESummit26