Dear Pender County Parents and Constituents,

Please contact our Pender County representatives in the Senate and House to express concerns about the Board of Education's decision to disregard constituent voices. We have received a response from their office, and a higher email volume will highlight the lack of input regarding the 3-tier schedule. 

Please reference our petition, representing approximately 75% of Pender County parents, in your email. I have included a sample email below that you may copy and change to fit the needs of your family. 

https://www.change.org/p/motion-to-reconsider-pender-county-s-3-tier-bell-schedule-decision 

Emails:
Representative Carson Smith carson.smith@ncleg.gov 

Senator Brent Jackson at brent.jackson@ncleg.gov.

I am a resident of Pender County. Recently, our Board of Education made a change to the school schedule for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. The change was not any of the options that parents were given to vote on, was hastily made without regard for students or parents, and will negatively impact my family. The changes go against scientific research for high school students by forcing them to be the earliest start time at 0710. It will not allow parents of elementary school students who work full-time jobs to get to work on time, as these students went from the earliest start time to a start time of 7:55. Our schools do not have before school care, and after school care is very limited. Additionally, this will put the burden of childcare expenses on many families who cannot afford it. Middle school students will be left to get up on their own, wait at a bus stop alone, and be completely responsible for themselves.

This is out of touch with the needs of the constituents and puts our children in a potentially harmful situation. Additionally, the east side of Pender County, to include Hampstead, Surf City, and the Town of Topsail Beach, is the only part that is impacted by these changes. 

Our county is currently operating on census data from 2000 and we do not have equal representation for the population in this portion of Pender  County. Please take the time to look into these issues; our children’s future depends on it. Thank you!