At the Gaston County Board of Education meeting on Nov. 17, a steady stream of public speakers pressed the district on teacher treatment, transportation gaps, curriculum inclusion of Juneteenth and community interest in LifeWise Academy.

Melody Hill, a teacher at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, described receiving an official reprimand over absences tied to COVID and necessary medical appointments after more than 23 years in the classroom. "I wasn't on vacation. I was sick," Hill said. She said she continued preparing plans and arriving early while recovering and framed the reprimand as emblematic of morale problems that contribute to staffing shortages. "What teachers need is compassion, trust and understanding from our leaders," she told the board.

Speakers also raised curriculum issues. Latasha White, founder and executive director of Health Carolina and Gastonia Ebony Fest, urged the district to teach Juneteenth as part of "historical literacy" that fosters identity and civic awareness. "Teaching Juneteenth in our schools closes a gap in American history," White said.

On proposed external program options, Sandy Larson (representing an interest group supporting LifeWise Academy) described LifeWise as an off-campus, parent-permitted, privately funded release-time character-education program and said more than 200 community members have expressed interest. Larson told the board LifeWise “follows each of these requirements” (off-campus, privately funded, parent permitted) and asked the district to discuss implementation options.

Transportation was another major focus. Brenda Eskridge, a Mount Holly resident, described ongoing bus shortages and route disruptions that sometimes left students without service or waiting long periods. She asked the board for a public report detailing which schools (she highlighted Bessemer City), how many students are affected, and the district’s multi‑year plan to recruit and retain drivers.

Deanna Graham, vice president of the NAACP Gastonia branch, called attention to widening proficiency gaps and patterns she described as segregation, citing proficiency and poverty statistics from the National Assessment of Educational Progress and local data. She asked the board to consider targeted supports and continuous progress monitoring for Black and economically disadvantaged students.

Anne Helms, a Belmont resident, emphasized rising homelessness among students—she said the district had more than 900 homeless students last year—and urged the board to press county commissioners for urgent resources, including recruitment bonuses for drivers and larger teacher supplements during the upcoming budget process.

Board policy prevented responses by board members during public expression, and the board reserved 30 minutes for commenters. Several speakers asked for follow-up reports and visible action steps from district staff.

What's next: Commenters asked staff to provide requested reports (transportation impact report, review of personnel actions and a clear description of LifeWise logistical requirements) and asked the board to advocate for county funding to address staffing and student needs.

(Reporting notes: quotes and claims in this article are taken from public comment statements recorded during the Nov. 17 board meeting.)