Why Local Families Took Their Fight for Public Schools to the State Capitol

When the crowd finally filled Halifax Mall in Raleigh on Friday, May 1, for a massive statewide protest, it didn’t feel like a single event.

It felt like everything people had been carrying, the frustration, the fear, the hope, and determination, had finally reached a place where it could be seen and heard all at once.

Parents stood with teachers. Students stood with advocates. Grandparents, organizers, and community members from across North Carolina gathered together, many holding signs, all united around one idea: 

The future of public education is not something to debate quietly. It is something worth showing up for.

But for the ones who traveled from Franklin and Granville Counties, this wasn’t just about what might happen in the future.

It was about what is already happening in our counties right now.

Our reporter Tykayla Livingston was on the ground with folks from Franklin and Granville counties. It was an energetic, packed day. A few of the highlights on some of the key issues affecting our public schools.

Franklin County: Aging Buildings, Growing Pressures

Rebecca Cuering, a member of the Franklin County Down Home chapter, stood among the crowd and explained why she felt compelled to be there. “Public schools are an important factor for making our society run. They allow parents to work, they prepare the next generation for the workforce, and they help young people learn how to think and interact with each other. And our teachers are a critical part of that. If they can’t afford to live, they won’t stay.”

In Franklin County, conversations around education have focused on infrastructure and sustainability. County and school planning documents show ongoing needs tied to aging facilities, capital improvements, and long-term investments required to keep schools functional and safe for students.

• Many school buildings are decades old, and ongoing discussions around HVAC systems and facility upgrades highlight learning environments that are not always equipped to support consistent comfort, safety, or focus.
• At the same time, according to county budget presentations and planning documents, the county is struggling to keep up with rapid population growth.  
• For teachers, those pressures mean larger workloads, limited support, and difficult decisions about whether they can continue in the profession long-term, especially as pay and working conditions continue to lag behind national standards.

Granville County: Cuts, Closures, and Community Response

Granville County resident and Down Home member Mary Petitt spoke at the rally about her grandson and the role public schools played in supporting him through serious health challenges. “Every child deserves the care that helps them to flourish,” she said, emphasizing that education systems must be equipped to meet the needs of all children, not just some. 

In Granville County, the situation has become more urgent and, for many families, more personal.

• Recent reporting from The Ledger News shows approximately 50 staff positions have been cut for the upcoming school year, a decision that carries significant implications for classrooms across the district. Fewer staff members mean fewer support roles, increased responsibilities for remaining educators, and less individualized attention for students who need it most. See the full Granville County Board of Education’s Reduction in Force presentation in section 7 of the 4/14/2026 meeting agenda here.
• At the same time, families have been grappling with the planned closure of Wilton Elementary School, which serves 322 students in southeastern Granville County. The decision that has sparked frustration, confusion, and concern among parents who feel the impact goes beyond a single building.

For many, schools are not just places of learning; they are anchors in the community. When a school closes, it changes routines, relationships, and access, especially for younger students and working families who depend on stability.

These decisions are not happening in isolation. They are the result of years of disinvestment from the state, which local communities are being forced to navigate in real time.

A crossroads for education in North Carolina.

According to statewide data, North Carolina ranks 50th (last!) in the nation, in public school funding effort, defined as state and local revenue allocated to support PK-12th education as a percentage of the state’s economic activity. 

That ranking reflects years of policy decisions that have gradually shifted resources away from public education systems that communities depend on. For Franklin and Granville, those impacts have become difficult to ignore. Follow along with County Beacon over the coming weeks as we explore the impacts of cuts and how communities are responding.  

If you want to get involved with advocating for public education in Franklin and Granville Counties, here are some upcoming opportunities:

Granville County Board of Education meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
GCPS Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford
Members of the public are invited to view the open session in person or via livestream at this link. Public comments for this meeting can be made in person at the meeting, or in writing by using this link. Comments made using the link must be submitted between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on May 5, 2026. A copy will be distributed to the Board of Education members. A maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment.

Granville County Listening Session
Friday, May 8, 6:00 p.m.
Creedmoor City Hall, 111 Masonic St., Creedmoor
Join community members to discuss ways to improve Granville County Public Schools and save Wilton Elementary. NC House Rep Bryan Cohn and Oxford City Commissioner Curtis McRae will be present.

Franklin County Board of Education meeting
Monday, May 11, 6:00 p.m.
Riverside Campus - 53 West River Road, Louisburg
In-person meetings are open to the media, staff, and public to attend. Those wishing to speak must sign up in person at the meeting between 5:30 p.m. and 5:59 p.m.