Hoke County Worst in the State in Education Spending
Hoke County is the lowest of all North Carolina counties in the amount it invests per student, and the commissioners shaved another $500,000 from that budget this fiscal year.
A convenient interactive map on the EducationNC’s website provides the eye-opening statistic. Select Hoke County and the “total appropriations” option. The popup reads, “Hoke County, 2023 Total Appropriations Rank 100, 2020-21 Total Local Appropriations (with Supplemental Funding) per ADM: 1,482.” ADM is average daily membership—the number of students in school. “Supplemental funding” comes from other sources and is largely employed for teacher salaries, according to the article.
In base local appropriations, the county improves to 98 out of 100. Hoke County invested only $691.16 ADM from its annual budget during the 2020/2021 school year. EducationNC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that “…encourages informed participation and strong leadership on behalf of the students of North Carolina.”
A News 1 story in March on the group’s findings noted, “The study shows Orange County spends the most in our state. In the 2021-22 school year, the county spent $376 more per student that the seven lowest-spending counties combined. Those counties are Caswell, Graham, Greene, Duplin, Hoke, Robeson and Swain.”
Commission Slashes Budget by $500,000
The Hoke County Commission sets the budget for education. In July it granted the school system $10.8 million for fiscal year 2024/2025, according to a report from The News-Journal. That number is down from the $11,306,747 it allotted during 2023/2024.
The figures reflect a decline of roughly half a million dollars this school year for education. In the meantime, the budget for the entire county increased by roughly $5 million.
The irony didn’t escape the notice of Raleigh, NC’s WRAL TV news. In an investigative story last week, it found, “Side-by-side comparisons of counties with similar-sized budgets also raise questions. Granville County has an $87 million budget compared to Hoke County's $75 million budget. Granville gave schools $26 million this year, about 30% of the budget. Hoke gave schools just $11 million, about 14% of its budget.” The reporter tried to reach Hoke County Manager Letitia Edens for comment, but there was no response. The question should have been posed to Hoke County Commission Chairman James A. Leach—the budget’s gatemaster—but his phone and e-mail are not listed on the county website or publicly available.
Voice Your Concerns
Parents concerned about the chronic underemphasis on their children’s education are encouraged to attend the Sept. 3 commissioner’s meeting. It takes place at 227 North Main Street in Raeford, and begins at 7 p.m.
Those who wish to speak in front of the elected officials are encouraged to arrive early to sign up. The number of speakers is limited to 10 and participants are allowed only three minutes at the microphone. In addition, residents can only do so once every 90 days during the first of the two meetings held monthly. The commissioners are currently considering even more restrictions after a constituent stormed out of July’s meeting and announced his departure in colorful terms.
Current members of the Hoke County Commissioner are Chairman Leach, Co-Chairman Harry Southerland, Allen Thomas, Tony Hunt and Robert Wright. Wright, lost his seat during this year’s primary and leaving office in January. Leach is seeking re-election for a 9th four-year term in November and the war chest he has raised dwarfs those of his opponents.
There are no published phone numbers or e-mail addresses to contact any county commissioners. Citizens unable to attend any of the meetings—who wish to voice concerns—can still call or send letters to the Hoke County Commissioner Clerk (details on this webpage) and ask that their comments be forwarded directly to elected officials.
And don’t forget to get your “Fire Leach ‘24” T-shirts while they last.
Fair Warning: One Hoke County Commissioner has stated the Commission will make a presentation of the "real facts" as they see them on education spending during the Sept. 3 meeting. He claims the figures cited above—from independent sources with links to verify—are wrong when capital improvements (buildings, concrete, etc.) are added and moves Hoke proudly up a notch or two from its "dead last but finished" investment in schools. We've yet to get a response when asked whether the bricks and lumber being used are certified teachers.