Pitt County Board of Education Candidate Forum –
On Thursday October 10th the Pitt County Educational Foundation and Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County are co-hosting a Pitt County Board of Education Candidate Forum. The forum begins at 6:30 pm at the Pitt County Schools and Recreation Building at Alice F. Keene Park, 4561 County Home Rd. Greenville, NC 27858. We invite all interested community members to come hear directly from the candidates at this forum to help them become informed voters in this election cycle.
This event provides an opportunity for the community to hear from the candidates running for a seat on the Pitt County Board of Education. In 2024 districts 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 are on the ballot electing a candidate to serve a 4 year term. District 1 is also on the ballot and the winner of that seat will serve the remaining 2 years of the term (which is open due to the resignation of that board member earlier this year). There are 11 candidates on the ballot this year and all candidates were invited to participate in the candidate forum, as well as to submit a biography to be included in the Candidate Spotlight which will be shared on social media and in print form at the candidate forum.
2024 General Election –
The 2024 election will have direct, serious impacts on public education. You can find lots of helpful information on the North Carolina Board of Elections site – https://www.ncsbe.gov. This site provides details about where to vote, voter ID information, sample ballots, voter registration status, and important dates. It is important to be an informed voter and to gather information including candidates’ stances on their support of public education and issues that affect public schools, teachers and children. PPS-PC encourages everyone to research candidate websites, search for candidate forums, and to read candidate responses from places such as Public Schools First of North Carolina which invited all candidates to take the PSFNC Education Position Questionnaire and posted the candidate responses on their website – https://publicschoolsfirstnc.org/engage/education-position-questionnaire/
Or Vote411 where you can find out what’s on your ballot and view responses candidates provided to questions asked about the issues – https://www.vote411.org/north-carolina
The Facts on North Carolina Elections and Education – https://publicschoolsfirstnc.org/resources/fact-sheets/the-facts-on-north-carolina-elections-and-education/
Public education is governed at the federal, state, and local levels. These elected officials all have some role in determining policy and funding for public schools. They are essential in promoting and supporting healthy, well-resourced public schools.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the leader of the Department of Public Instruction, which oversees all public schools in the state. This elected official is a statewide spokesperson for public schools who advocates for their support and promotes policies to advance student learning while working with legislative and community members to secure necessary funding to achieve educational goals. This role oversees over 1,600 employees and administers a budget of over $11 billion each year for public pre-K-12 education. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer, serves on the state board of education. On September 14th the candidates for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction participated in a debate that was live streamed. You can view the recording of that debate using this link – https://www.wral.com/21621521/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0sRZRhShvv8n12VGzTKvLiQRYe3A6X5fpfhVj-_BASJjfkjv4dj5m_KIw_aem_X7ZU1Xbzx02BVXF1zLrN0Q
Things to keep in mind with the upcoming election –
- Deadline to register to vote is Friday October 11 at 5:00 pm
- Voters who are voting during the early voting period or on election day will be asked to show a photo ID. Voters without a photo ID can get one free from the Pitt County Board of Elections or from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. If a voter cannot show a photo ID when voting in person, they can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form.
- There are 7 early voting sites in Pitt County: AG Center, Ayden Community Building, Boyd Lee Park, ECU Student Center, Eppes Recreation Center, Farmville Community Center, Winterville Fire Station
- Early Voting dates and time:
Thursday October 17 and Friday October 18 – 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Saturday October 19 – 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday October 21 – Friday October 25 – 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Saturday October 26 – 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday October 27 – 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Monday October 28 – Friday November 1 – 8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Saturday November 2 – 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Tuesday November 5 is Election day and polls are open 6:30 am – 7:30 pm
