Following a joint meeting with the Pender County Board of Education, the Pender County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to amend the county budget and provide an additional $2.7 million to Pender County Schools, allowing the district to maintain current services for the 2026-2027 school year.
The vote came after school leaders, educators, parents, and students spoke about the potential impact of reductions on classrooms, instructional support, teacher retention, and student achievement. Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove shared that the district’s original request included the funding needed to maintain existing services, but the county’s approved allocation left a $2.7 million gap. Without the additional funding, the district had identified several cost-saving measures, including moving central office-based instructional support positions back into classrooms, reducing assistant principal months, cutting athletics, and limiting substitute and professional development budgets.
Throughout the discussion, leaders from both boards acknowledged the challenges created by growth, rising costs, and stagnant state funding. District officials noted that Pender County Schools has made significant academic progress while operating with one of the lowest per-pupil expenditure rankings in the state. Dr. Breedlove said the district’s goal throughout the budget process was to limit the direct impact on students and classrooms.
Commissioners discussed several possible options before voting to suspend their rules, amend the agenda, revise the county budget by using money from the fund balance, and approve the additional $2.7 million. The motion was made by Commissioner Dr. Jimmy Tate, seconded by Commissioner Brad George, and approved unanimously.
“This decision helps protect the people, programs, and supports that directly serve students,” Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove said. “We are grateful to the Board of Commissioners, the Board of Education, and the many community members who came together in support of our schools.”
The meeting adjourned after both boards expressed interest in continued collaboration and more regular budget conversations moving forward.
