May 14 letter from Robeson to State Board

1. 1
Public Schools of Robeson County
Post Office Drawer 2909
Lumberton, North Carolina 28359
(910) 671-6000
Fax (910) 671-6024
Public Schools of Robeson County
Post Office Drawer 2909
Lumberton, North Carolina 28359
(910) 671-6000
Office of the Superintendent
May 14, 2019
Mr. Eric Davis, Chairman
North Carolina State Board of Education
301 North Wilmington Street, Room 212
6302 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-6302
Chairman Davis,
I write to you today as a concerned citizen of Robeson County, Public Schools of Robeson County
graduate, future parent of a child who will hopefully be attending the Public Schools of Robeson
County, but most importantly, Superintendent. As I reflect on my professional career, I must
acknowledge that the Public Schools of Robeson County has much to celebrate and be proud of.
During my tenure, I am proud to say I have worked with a highly talented staff at the central office and
in our schools. The district has instructional leaders and innovative educators who are challenging the
status quo. My interactions with administrators, teachers, and staff members demonstrate time and
time again that an incredible number and array of educators and stakeholders have accepted the
challenges of preparing our students for their future, not our present. We have expanded networks and
increased engagement with stakeholders that bring new voices to transformation initiatives we are
attempting to implement. Despite budget cuts, potential school closures, looming staff reductions and a
worsening political environment, employees have remained committed to, and focused on, overcoming
the challenges facing education in our untrusting, wounded and divided community.
Over the past two years, data shows students are showing progress, however, the school board has
become an obstacle to further improvement. Sabotage of the district image and financial management,
along with micromanagement by board members, continues and seems to be worsening. The
superintendent and board members’ contentious relationship and differing leadership philosophies have
hindered the district/school improvement process. The issues between the school board and senior
leadership have distracted the staff and students in the district. Ego-driven conflict at the top has
slowed our progress. The resulting turmoil is jeopardizing the orderly administration of public education
in Robeson County.
The underlying issues centered on power and control continue to manifest and serve as a major
distraction to our most important focus; improving teaching and learning, inspiring excellence, building
character, and impacting the future through academics, arts, and athletics. The split and fractured
board must focus on reconciliation. If they decide against this, the split board will continue to undermine
any superintendent’s authority, erode public confidence in the district and make long-range planning
difficult. It will be virtually impossible to accomplish our board-approved strategic goals.
It is my belief that we can do better with direct guidance, assistance and support from the North
Carolina State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction. Without direct intervention,
with adult issues in Robeson County, we will not be able to sustain the progress we have worked hard
to achieve. It is evident that local governance and systems, needed to move the system forward, are
not in place within the Public Schools of Robeson County. The constant interference from board
members creates an unstable environment and morale is worsening at an alarming rate. The board has

2. 2
difficulty distinguishing the role of making policy versus giving individual directives to district and school
employees.
Furthermore, the Public Schools of Robeson County is facing an extreme financial crisis. Insurance
money from recent hurricanes is being used to continue daily operations. Also, student enrollment has
declined, funding from the state has decreased and the flexibility to transfer funds has been taken
away. I am deeply concerned that the Public Schools of Robeson County Board is making decisions
that are unaffordable and undermine the many quality teachers, principals and central office employees
who are trying to make a difference for students. The board of education is unable and/or unwilling to
make sound financial decisions in order to sustain a financially viable school district. Rapid, politically
motivated changes, which bring self-gratification to only a few who thrive on power, must cease
immediately. The district simply cannot sustain itself at the current level of spending.
Sound financial decisions to sustain a financially viable school district are not being made despite the
dilapidated facilities, environmental concerns, and safety issues evident in our schools. The poor state
of some local school facilities—which, in North Carolina, are traditionally funded by local governments
and not the state—contributes to a system that deprives some of a “sound basic education”. The focus
of the board continues to be new capital projects/improvements despite warnings from the County’s
local government/administration to eliminate or drastically reduce capital spending. The board refuses
to develop and/or adhere to any prioritized list of needs and politics continually influence decisions
made by board members.
The Public Schools of Robeson County has chronically been known across the state for its poor
academic performance and has received repeated warnings and recommendations from the North
Carolina Department of Public Instruction that have not been followed. As a result, we currently have a
corrective action plan pertaining to our exceptional children program and are working to correct all
deficiencies. We will do the same if other corrective action plans are developed from audits of current
programs and departments.
The district is in dire need. We are requesting that the State Board of Education take a direct role in the
district’s budget, employment decisions, and capital projects. Without the necessary interventions, the
continued instability will make it difficult for the Public Schools of Robeson County to meet its goals.
Additionally, we are asking for the North Carolina State Board of Education to assist with district
improvement planning. This would include identifying deficiencies and outlining strategies to bolster
achievement. The district improvement plan may address financial, management, and instructional
practices, as well as assist with the development of specific academic goals. We are asking for
technical assistance from a team of experts who can assist with monitoring and offer recommendations
on improvement efforts along with helping train district and school personnel. Our schools have
resources, however, there is little autonomy, which limits the flexibility in the strategies used by staff to
help such schools execute needed improvements. While I am committed to improving the Public
Schools of Robeson County, I am concerned that we do not have the expertise or capacity to make
strategic moves to facilitate change. Without direct intervention, it will continue to be difficult to foster
school reform or change initiatives. A mechanism for monitoring, free of reprisal, is needed to
determine progress and effectiveness. Monitoring with fidelity and reliable program evaluations will
guide the support and technical assistance aimed at improving student achievement. Our goal is
simple. Sustained improvement. Once this occurs, local control may be reestablished by returning the
district to the control of the local board and superintendent.
Providing a high quality education to our students is far too important to the future of our county and
state to wait for an extensive bureaucratic process or to allow resistance from adults who would like to
maintain the unacceptable status quo. I welcome a review by the State Board of Education, Department
of Public Instruction or Courts, but will continue to use any and all tools at my disposal to ensure that
we are providing every student the opportunities needed to be successful. I have remained committed

3. 3
to transparency and will continue to do so in the future. I will have open and honest communication with
those I serve. Because of that commitment, I am compelled to submit this letter to prevent the
disclosure of inaccurate, misleading and incomplete information to the public.
Sending this request for assistance is a bold and necessary action to make sure the board and I are
fulfilling our statutorily defined roles and working together for the benefit of all students. The children in
Robeson County deserve an opportunity to learn and we, in the Public Schools of Robeson County,
have a moral responsibility to provide a quality education for all of our students. We must return our
focus on the single most important task; the education of the students of Robeson County. The time for
action is now.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Shanita W. Wooten
Superintendent
cc: Mr. Mark Johnson, State Superintendent
Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin, Deputy State Superintendent
Attorney Eric Snider, Agency General Counsel (State Board of Education)
Alexis Schauss, Chief School Business Officer
Sherry H. Thomas, Director Exceptional Children Division
Deanna Townsend-Smith, Director of Operations and Policy
Dr. Ben Matthews, Director of School Planning Section (School Operations Division)