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Troy's Perspective: CCS needs to look to future

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Troy Williams

Cumberland County school officials must confront significant challenges as they prepare for the 2026-27 school year. A critical decision lies in the $670.8 million budget request from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, which includes a crucial $6.5 million increase for employee raises. This budget will directly affect the quality of education and community resources, making it essential for residents to understand its impact.
Cumberland County Schools proposes consolidating eight or more schools, including five elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, to address over $800 million in facility repair needs and save an estimated $31 million to $36.5 million annually. This plan aims to strengthen our community's educational future together.
Closing aging schools is a sensitive issue, and school officials must adopt constructive approaches when communicating this information to the community. Emphasizing respect and understanding can help residents feel valued and reassure them that their concerns are acknowledged. While it may sound insensitive, some citizens believe that certain changes are necessary to provide students and staff with access to modern learning environments. The community should focus on a brighter future rather than dwelling on the past.
A significant concern for part of the community is the proposed closure of Anne Chestnutt Middle School. Anne Chestnutt has historical significance in Cumberland County, as it was one of only two high schools for African American students during segregation. The last high school graduating class at Chestnutt was in 1969, meaning the youngest alums are now likely in their mid 70s.
Alums of Anne Chestnutt are understandably opposed to the proposed school closure. Their resistance reflects a deep emotional connection, and the school represents much more to them than a building. It is a place where they formed lifelong relationships and cherished memories. Closing the school would erase a part of their personal history and the community's identity. Additionally, given the school's ties to segregation, its closure would further symbolize the loss of an important aspect of its history.
While the community may empathize with Anne Chestnutt's alumni, it is crucial to consider an alternative perspective. School officials report that Chestnutt has the lowest facility rating among the 13 middle schools in the county, having received an unsatisfactory rating. The school requires $6,604,825 in deferred maintenance. In contrast, the neighboring school, Lewis Chapel, built in 1950 and expanded in 1973 with a 34,000-square-foot addition, has a fair facility rating and only needs $1,164,079 in deferred maintenance. The decision to close Chestnutt was likely very difficult, and on the surface, it seems necessary.
In the Broadell subdivision off the Murchison Road corridor, there is a proposal to build a new E.E. Smith High School and a new Ferguson-Easley Elementary School at their respective locations. What may be seen as a loss for some could be considered a significant win for the Black community in Broadell.
Modern education is vastly different from what it was 40 to 60 years ago. Students now require technology-ready classrooms, STEM labs, media spaces, flexible learning areas, and appropriate lighting and acoustics. Older buildings were not designed to accommodate contemporary teaching methods.
It's time to start looking forward instead of looking back.

Truth matters: community involvement matters

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Tuesday, 03 March 2026

Written by Barbara Porter

I want to address something about the Republican Primary for House District 43. There seems to be some people who want to claim that Clarence Goins, Jr. is the person who will make things happen in our county and state. I wish to point out that in all the years he has been in Cumberland County, that would be all of his life, he has not done anything to help anyone except himself.
He has never volunteered to work with any civic organization to better the community. He has never joined any organization within the community that would give him the knowledge or experience to understand just what the community needs and the different ways that we as a community can accomplish those goals.
He can say that he is for conservative values but, without having ever done anything to help the community or the state to push for those values, the words are empty rhetoric.
I would like to ask everyone to do some research before deciding who is the best Republican Candidate to represent us in Raleigh. Look at the website “justfacts.votesmart.org” and compare what is on there about Clarence Goins and what is on there about Diane Wheatley.
I believe you will see a big difference and understand that while Clarence Goins talks about wanting to do things, Diane Wheatley actually goes out and does them.
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/.../92358/diane-wheatley
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/.../178289/clarence-goins-jr

Barbara Porter
Fayetteville, NC

Publisher's Pen: Fayetteville Liberty opener a success! Now, what are we going to do about it?

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Tuesday, 10 March 2026

Written by Bill Bowman

Friday, March 6, at the Crown Arena was nothing short of electric. The Fayetteville Liberty tipped off their inaugural season in The Basketball League with a 93–86 victory over the Raleigh Firebirds, and the energy inside the building was undeniable. The Hoke County High School Marching Band set the tone early, filling the arena with excitement as fans, sponsors, city and county officials, and community leaders packed the stands to witness the arrival of professional basketball—done right—in Fayetteville.
For those who have lived here long enough, the story of local sports teams is familiar. Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen team after team come and go—basketball, hockey, indoor football, you name it. Even the Fayetteville Patriots, our NBA Development League team, came in with promise in 2001 and folded by 2006. And the reason was always the same: they never truly connected with the heart of this community: Its people.
Enter Robert Edwards.
In January 2025, I sat down with Robert Edwards, a 17-year U.S. military veteran who founded the Fayetteville Liberty in December 2024. I remember that conversation vividly. I laid out the history—the pitfalls, the rabbit holes, the mistakes that had doomed so many teams before. And Robert listened. Not because he was worried, but because he was committed.
From the beginning, Edwards made it clear he wasn’t just building a basketball team. He was building an organization rooted in community engagement, youth development, values, and opportunity—a franchise that reflects the identity and spirit of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
And he has delivered.
Robert Edwards and his team have honored every commitment they made to this community. Now it’s our turn. Fayetteville and Cumberland County residents must step up and support the Liberty. Edwards has given us something of quality, something that reflects positively on our community across the country. It’s up to us to sustain it.
Community Leaders Agree
Cumberland County Commission Chairman Kirk deViere, seated courtside with his wife Jenny and son Greyson, summed it up perfectly.
“The Fayetteville Liberty opening game was bigger than basketball. When Robert Edwards brought the Liberty to Cumberland County, he gave this community something powerful: a reason to come together, cheer together, and believe in what we are building here together. This game was not just the start of a season. It was the start of something that belongs to all of us.”
Also seated courtside and weighing in on the Fayetteville Liberty’s inaugural debut, representing the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce was George Breece, Director Emeritus of the Chamber Board of Directors.
“Our community is very fortunate to have this Liberty team ownership whose focus is not just great basketball but community outreach. A good team, great fans on opening night, a great venue in the Crown Arena with a very supportive Crown management and staff. Now that’s a recipe for success in our Can Do County,” he said.
George is right about the Crown team. The Crown Complex has always taken risks to support local sports, often losing money in the process, because they understand how important a successful sports venue is to a thriving community. Crown General Manager Seth Benalt is fully committed to the Liberty because he knows professional basketball fills a major gap in our local entertainment landscape.
So What Now? Everyone who attended the March 6 game will tell you the same thing: it was fun, exciting, and just the beginning. But for this team to thrive, we must do our part. Partner. Sponsor. Buy a ticket. Bring a friend. Bring a group or just show up! The next home game is March 21 against the DMV Soldiers (not the Dept. of Motor Vehicles), a first-year team representing Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and coached by Maryland Terrapins National Champion Byron Mouton.
This is our moment, Fayetteville. Robert Edwards has done his part. The team is doing theirs. Seth Benalt and the Crown Complex are doing theirs. The stage is set. Now it’s up to us. Follow the Fayetteville Liberty all season long in Up & Coming Weekly—the official newspaper of the Fayetteville Liberty. We couldn’t be prouder to support the Liberty in this community.
Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

(Photo courtesy of Fayetteville Liberty)

Faith, family, & fight for educational accountability

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Tuesday, 03 March 2026

Written by Tracy C. Pelt-Waterford

Many families in Cumberland County believe the time has come to decide whether faith is simply professed or actively lived out. For them, the issue at hand is not only political but spiritual, moral, and deeply personal. It centers on protecting children, empowering parents, and standing for truth when systems fall short.
Supporters argue that faith driven responsibility begins with stewardship. Scripture teaches that parents are entrusted with their children’s development, and when educational systems fail to recognize legitimate needs or delay support, families carry the burden. Believers, they say, cannot remain silent when policies or practices deny children the help they need to thrive.
A recent case before the Office of Administrative Hearings reflects what many parents say they experience quietly. One mother reports seeking an Individualized Education Program, called an IEP, for nearly three years. According to her complaint, she alleges repeated denials and claims that grades were altered to make her son appear more successful than he was.
Advocates say her story mirrors a broader pattern across North Carolina.
“Here we go again”
Parents point to a July 25, 2025 decision from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, which found Cumberland County Schools in violation of federal regulations and state policies regarding Child Find obligations, timely referrals, and evaluation procedures. Child Find laws require schools to identify and evaluate students suspected of having disabilities. DPI concluded that delays and failures to open referrals did not meet legal requirements.
Families say similar concerns continue today.
Faith and advocacy
For many believers, the debate extends beyond policy into questions of justice. Faith leaders emphasize Scripture’s call to defend those who cannot defend themselves. When a child struggles academically or medically, they argue that child deserves timely support—not delay.
The complaint filed Jan. 20, 2026, alleges that verbal requests for evaluation were made over multiple school years but were not acted upon within required timelines. Parents navigating the system often describe feeling overwhelmed or unheard, making community awareness essential.
A statewide effort for accountability
The issue now reaches beyond Cumberland County. A federal lawsuit, Cynthia Lee, et al. v. Cumberland County Schools, et al. (EDNC No. 5:25 cv 746), seeks certification that could include families statewide who experienced similar delays or denials.
Parents or guardians who requested testing, asked for an IEP referral meeting but were denied, or received a meeting after the 90 day legal timeline may contact attorney Robert Ekstrand at 919-452 4647 or rce@ninthstreetlaw.com for information about their rights.
Advocates say help often begins with a single phone call or email.
They argue that strong families build strong communities—and protecting children must become a clear priority. When systems drift from accountability, they say faithful citizens must respond with courage and conviction. Kingdom influence means standing in the gap for parents who feel unheard and for children whose futures depend on timely support.
The question before the community, advocates say, is simple: Will citizens remain silent, or will they lead?

Editor's note: Tracy C. Pelt-Waterford is PR chair for the Cumberland County Republican Women’s Club and writes on parental rights, education accountability, religious liberty and community leadership. She is founder of C2C Equipping Institute and advocates for civic engagement rooted in God, country, family and freedom.