Governor Roy Cooper recently toured Southern Alamance High School in Graham, North Carolina. This visit was part of his ‘The Year of Public Schools’ tour, which aims to emphasize the role of public education in community development. Cooper was joined by teachers, students, education leaders, and local officials. He commended the work done at Southern Alamance High School and other schools in the Alamance-Burlington School System.
Cooper took this opportunity to call for full funding of K-12 education in the next legislative session. He stressed the need for investment in early childhood education and teacher salaries. He also called for a pause on state spending on vouchers for unregulated private schools until public schools are fully funded. He highlighted the role of public schools in preparing students for careers in various sectors.
Dr. Dain Butler, Superintendent of Alamance-Burlington School System, agreed with Cooper. He emphasized the school system’s dedication to high-quality learning experiences to prepare students for future success. He pointed out the importance of Career and Technical education programs, like the FFA program at Southern High, in providing students with practical skills.