>> UP NEXT ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, A DEEPER LOOK AT A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND A CHECK ON WHO'S GETTING THE COVID VACCINE IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

STAY WITH US.

♪ >> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM I'M DEBORAH, HOLT-NOEL.

MORE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE GOING AWAY WITH HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYING OUR TRENDS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO STRESSING THAT THIS DOESN'T MEAN THE FIGHT IS OVER.

>> THE NEWEST EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM GOVERNOR ROY COOPER WILL EASE SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

BUSINESSES LIKE STORES, SALONS MUSEUMS, RESTAURANTS AND GYMS CAN ALL NOW INCREASE THEIR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CAPACITIES.

BUT THEY DO STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND THE STATE'S MASK MANDATE IS ALSO STILL IN PLACE.

> IN ADDITION, EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, WE WILL FULLY LIFT THE 11PM CURFEW FOR ON-SITE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.

AND FINALLY THE MASS GATHERING LIMIT WHICH COVERS OTHER KINDS OF GATHERINGS THAT ARE NOT LAID OUT IN THE ORDER WILL BE INCREASED TO 50 INDOORS, AND 100 OUTDOORS.

>> THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

BUT THEY CAN BE DONE SAFELY.

WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG THAT THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA WOULD BE OUR GUIDE IN THIS DEMO SWITCH APPROACH AND THEY SHOW WE CAN DO THIS.

NORTH CAROLINA HAS DONE THE WORK TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS AND GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE EFFORTS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT I EMPHASIZE THIS.

THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER YET.

WE'RE ONLY ABLE TO KEEP THIS VIRUS IN CHECK WHILE WE EASE RESTRICTIONS IF PEOPLE ACT RESPONSIBLY, AND FOLLOW SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

THAT MEANS CONTINUING TO WEAR A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY WHILE KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

AND IT'S ON ALL OF US TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THE LAST THING WE WANT IS TO BACKSLIDE.

SPRING HAS BROUGHT SUNNIER DAYS AND THE CONTINUED HOPE AND BELIEF THAT WE WILL MOVE PAST THIS PANDEMIC.

OUR STUDENTS ARE IN THE CLASSROOMS, PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED AND OUR COVID-19 NUMBERS REMAIN PROMISING.

BUT FOR US TO TRULY TURN THE CORNER AND LEAVE THIS PANDEMIC BEHIND, WE HAVE TO STAY STRONG TO THE VERY END.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE KEEPING OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER SAFE.

THAT WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE ONCE AND FOR ALL INTO A STRONGER AND HEALTHIER FUTURE.

ALSO WITH ME TODAY IS OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, >> THOSE IMPROVING METRICS ARE ALSO PUSHING LEADERS TO BUMP UP THE VACCINATION TIMELINE WITH ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS OVER 16 BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHOT BY APRIL 7.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO GET 200 MILLION AMERICANS VACCINATED BY THE END OF APRIL.

>> I KNOW IT'S AMBITIOUS, TWICE, OUR ORIGINAL GOAL.

BUT NO OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS EVEN COME CLOSE.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

>> MEANWHILE, THE WHITE HOUSE IS INVESTING 10 BILLION DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE ALL COMMUNITIES GET ACCESS.

HEALTH CENTERS IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE RECEIVING ABOUT 162 MILLION DOLLARS.

[APPLAUSE] THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO TACKLE VACCINATION INEQUITIES HAVE RECEIVED NATIONAL ATTENTION IN RECENT WEEKS, BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ISN'T LETTING UP.

>> AND WHILE VACCINE EQUITY HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT, AND SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE WORK, AND MORE INVESTMENT IS NEEDED.

>> THAT WAS BEEN MONEY THE DEPARTMENT'S DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH SERVICES, THEY JUST LAUNCHED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NC COUNTS COALITION >> WE KNOW THAT INEQUITIES ARE DRIVEN BY MANY FACTORS THAT ARE ROOTED IN CENTURIES OF SYSTEMIC RACISM AND STRUCTURAL INEQUITY SO HEALTHY TOGETHER REALLY IS IS A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE LONG-TERM DEPARTMENTAL COMMITMENT TOWARDS HEALTH EQUITY WITH AN INITIAL FOCUS ON VACCINE EQUITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS THAT COMMUNITIES DO KNOW BEST THEY KNOW THEMSELVES AND THE NEED THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THEIR LOCAL AREAS.

BUT THEY NEED CAPACITY THEY NEED PEOPLE THEY NEED FUNDS THEY NEED RESOURCES TO BE ABLE ACT ON THAT KNOWLEDGE.

AND SO WE'RE INVESTING IN STATE REGIONAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS LED BY AND SERVING HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES.

FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M JOSHUA SENEGAL.

>> I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DOCTOR DELON CANTERBURY, CEO OF GERIATRICS, AND A MEMBER OF DURHAM'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN COVID TASKFORCE.

PLUS DOCTOR JULIUS WILDER, A GASTROENTEROLOGIST AT DUKE UNIVERSITY, SO GLAD TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU HERE WITH US GENTLEMEN.

LET ME OPEN UP WITH YOU DOCTOR WILDER, LET'S JUST - CAN YOU ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT THE VACCINE IN GENERAL.

GIVING US JUST A BRIEF SENSE OF YOUR MEDICAL BACKGROUND BUT WHAT DOES THE VACCINE DO IN TERMS OF IMMUNIZATION, PROTECTING A PERSON AGAINST SPURS AHEAD OF COVID AND ONCE AGAIN PROTECTING OTHERS WHO ARE AROUND THAT PERSON WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN AROUND OTHERS WITH COVID.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GREAT QUESTION.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.

THIS VACCINE, OR THE VACCINES I SHOULD SAY THAT ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT THEY DO IS REALLY PROVIDE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH A TEMPLATE SO THAT IT IS PREPARED TO BATTLE AND DEFEAT THE VIRUS AS SOON AS YOUR BODY IS EXPOSED TO IT.

NOW THAT MEANS YOUR BODY IS STILL EXPOSED TO IT HOWEVER.

NOW SOME OF US THAT MAY BE EXPOSED TO IT THEY MAY HAVE NO SYMPTOMS, SOME OF US MAY BE EXPOSED TO IT AND HAVE VERY MINOR SYMPTOMS.

WHAT THE VACCINE IS GOING TO DO IS TO ENSURE THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY REALLY REALLY BAD OUTCOMES ENSURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND CERTAINLY ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE NO DEATHS.

AND MANY OF US WILL HAVE QUITE FRANKLY NO REAL INFECTION AT ALL IN THE SETTING OF RECEIVING THE VACCINATION.

THE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN ENSURE HAVE THAT VACCINE, THEN THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS FOR THE VIRUS TO SURVIVE BECAUSE VIRUSES NEED TO BE INSIDE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN REPLICATE SO THAT THEY CAN SPREAD, AND IF WE IMPEDE THE ABILITY OF THE VIRUS TO GET INTO PEOPLE BY VACCINATING US.

THEN WE IMPEDE THE ABILITY OF THE VIRUS TO CONTINUE TO REPLICATE AND SPREAD.

>> SO ONCE A PERSON GETS THEIR 2 DOSES, OR IN THE CASE OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON THEIR SINGLE DOSE, AND THEY ARE PROTECTED, HOW SHOULD THEY GOVERN THEMSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REST OF THE FAMILY SAY THEY HAVE CHILDREN ARE ALSO PROTECTED?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO YOU KNOW WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE VACCINE IS REALLY WORKING INSIDE YOUR BODY.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT PLAY A ROLE IN SPREAD.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT STILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS IN TERMS OF THINGS LIKE HAND WASHING, STILL IMPORTANT, STILL IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE TO WEAR YOUR MASK, YOU KNOW THESE ARE OTHER SORT OF FACTORS THAT STILL COME INTO PLAY.

SO AFTER VACCINATION PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH OF THE VIRUS.

STILL IN OUR COMMUNITY ALTHOUGH IT'S IMPROVING, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF IT OUT THERE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVEN AFTER VACCINATION THAT YOU DO NUMBER IMPORTANT THINGS I MENTIONED.

WASH YOUR HANDS ENSURE SOCIAL DISTANCING, YOU KNOW CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN VACCIINATED YET, BUT THEY SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK AND CERTAINLY ADHERING TO THE ISSUES AROUND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND HAND WASHING AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW DOCTOR CANTERBURY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DOCTOR CANTERBURY, DOCTOR WILDER HAS MENTIONED THE IMPROVEMENTS THE SLOW AND STEADY IMPROVEMENT OF THE VACCINE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA, IT WASN'T SO AT THE VERY BEGINNING BUT I THINK THAT WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS A LEADER NOW IN ITS DISTRIBUTION PLAN.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE GETTING THIS VACCINE INTO THEIR ARMS AND HOW THAT COMPARES TO THE RATE OF OTHER COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU AGAIN DEBORAH FOR HAVING ME ON.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COVID TASK FORCE AND IN DOING SO WE ARE UNIFYING HOW WE CAN REALLY IMPROVE ACCESS AND SOME OF THESE BEARS THAT WERE SEEN IN THE INITIAL VACCINE ROLLOUT.

FRANKLY WHAT OUR TEAM DOES, ALONG WITH OTHERS JUST LIKE LATIN 19, WE COLLABORATE AND PARTNER WITH HEALTH SYSTEMS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER NONPROFITS, CHURCHES AND FAITH-BASED LEADERS.

ALL THIS BEING SAID IT'S BEING TACKLED IN A UNIFIED COMMUNITY FRONT AND WITH THAT EFFORT WE ARE GETTING VACCINES IN PEOPLE'S ARMS FROM RANDOM POP-UP VACCINATION CLINICS AT MOUNT VERNON WHICH WAS SEEN ACTUALLY YESTERDAY HERE IN DURHAM, OR THOSE LIKE SAINT JOSEPHS IN THE HISTORIC THERE DURHAM COMMUNITY, AND IN DOING THIS WE ARE NOT ONLY INSTILLING TRUST BUT WE'RE BRIDGING THOSE GAPS THAT OTHERWISE HAPPENED REVEALED FROM AN UGLY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

>> SO YOU TALK ABOUT THE UGLY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND IT REMINDS ME OF THIS TERM VACCINATION HESITATION.

AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOW AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE NOT RUNNING TO GET THIS VACCINE BECAUSE A VACCINE HESITATION.

HOW MUCH IS THAT STILL AT PLAY RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HESITANCY ESPECIALLY WHERE MOST PEOPLE'S INFORMATION COMES FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

IN THE BEGINNING, ESPECIALLY EARLIER ON IN AUGUST PRE RELEASE OF THESE VACCINES, AFRICAN AMERICAN DISTRUST AND HESITANCY WAS AT A HIGH.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 80%.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 27% VACCINE HESITANCY IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY BASED ON INFORMATION COMING OUT OF THE ACCORD STUDY WITH CENTRAL.

THEY'RE DOING AMAZING WORK.

AND REALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HESITANCY NOW, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE TRADITIONAL, OH, IT WAS TUSKEEGEE, OR AS WHATEVER EXPERIENCE YOU MAY HAVE HAD, THAT REALLY COMING DOWN TO THE CORE SINCE BEING A MINORITY IN A BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

>> THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, I MEAN, BECAUSE PEOPLE ALWAYS GO BACK TO TUSKEGEE.

WE SAY YOU KNOW, NO, WHAT IS IT THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES THAT GIVE THEM THIS HESITANCY?

>> YES, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE VACCINATION CLINICS, THERE ARE LONG WAIT LISTS.

THERE ARE STILL THE VERY SAME ACCESS BARRIERS THAT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COVID TASK FORCE IN GERIATRICS ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS OURSELVES.

WE STILL HAVE LONG WAITS EVEN THOUGH THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, THERE ARE STILL LONG WAITS, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DIGITAL DIVIDE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET THROUGH OR CAN'T TAKE OFF WORK TO MAKE CALLS, AND SO WHAT WE DO WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COVID TASK FORCE IS TAKE THE EFFORT TO TAKE THAT HEADACHE OUT OF THE PROCESS.

WE'RE THAT LIAISON BETWEEN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND THE OTHER NONPROFITS AND SO THE HESITANCY IS NOW REALLY THE FRUSTRATION BECAUSE NOW I'M SEEING MINORITIES, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, WANTING THE VACCINE.

SO IT'S JUST A NEW HOT TOPIC, NOW IT'S HOW DO I GET INTO THE CLUB, HOW DO I GET IT?

>> WE'VE MOVED OVER FROM HESITANCY TO YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID FRUSTRATION -- >> STILL AN EQUITY ISSUE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DOCTOR WILDER, YOU KNOW TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EQUITY.

IN A MOMENT, I DID WANT TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT IT DOESN'T REALLY RELATE TO HESITANCY, BUT THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY HAS A CHOICE IN THIS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE.

AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO KIND OF WAIT THIS OUT, WAIT FOR MY HERD IMMUNITY TO TAKE PLACE BECAUSE I'M STILL -- I'M JUST NOT A VACCINE PERSON.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE FOLKS DOCTOR WILDER?

>> I WOULD SAY YOU'RE TAKING A CHANCE.

YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE ACHIEVE TRUE HERD IMMUNITY.

AND THIS VACCINE IS THIS INFECTION IS VERY DANGEROUS.

THERE ARE - OBVIOUSLY THERE HAVE BEEN OVER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WHO DIED FROM THIS INFECTION, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WHILE THEY HAVE NOT DIED FROM IT, CONTINUE TO SUFFER DEBILITATING SYMPTOMS AND WE'RE TALKING 6 MONTHS OR MORE LONG COVID AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN INFECTED AND QUITE FRANKLY I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COVID-19, ONE YEAR, 3 YEARS, 5 YEARS, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT IT AS A YOU KNOW CO-MORBIDITY, SIMILAR TO HOW WE DISCUSS DO YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION?

DIABETES?

DO YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF COVID-19?

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR RISK OF HEART ATTACK, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE RISK OF DIABETES, OR KIDNEY FAILURE, OR OTHER, OR STROKE?

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PUT OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND THAT HONESTLY AT THIS POINT REALLY INVOLVES ENSURING YOU DO THOSE PROPER THINGS AROUND SOCIAL DISTANCING, HAND WASHING, THOSE KIND OF THINGS WHILE GETTING VACCINATED.

>> AND COULD YOU TAKE JUST A FEW SECONDS TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR EQUITY WORK?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BRIDGE THE VERY GAPS THAT WE DISCUSSED ALREADY AROUND ACCESS.

YOU KNOW VACCINE HESITANCY HAS BEEN THE MAIN CONCERN I THINK APPROPRIATELY, BUT YOU KNOW AS WE DISCUSSED, WE'RE RECOGNIZING NOW, BUT THE BIG ISSUE IS HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE GET THE VACCINE TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY INFECTED BY COVID-19?

SO THE SAME SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH RIGHT?

WHERE YOU LIVE HOW YOU LIVE, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PERSON WHO IS BLACK INDIGENOUS OR YOU KNOW, A PERSON OF COLOR.

THE BARRIERS AROUND LANGUAGE, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, THOSE SAME SOCIAL FACTORS, LIKE WHERE YOU WORK, YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO, ALL OF THOSE FACTORS WERE THE MAIN DRIVERS OF WHY THIS INFECTION HAS SUCH A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON PEOPLE OF COLOR.

BUT THOSE SAME FACTORS NOW COMING INTO PLAY WITH RESPECT TO OUR ABILITY TO VACCINATE THAT SAME POPULATION AND SO TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATE IN TERMS OF TARGETING ACTUALLY SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE VACCINE IN THE PLACE WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HAVING THE MOST LIVES LOST.

>> WELL, DEFINITELY THOSE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND OTHER SOURCES INEQUITY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE CERTAINLY ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, AND I THANK YOU BOTH DOCTOR JULIUS WILDER AND DOCTOR DELON CANTERBURY FOR BEING WITH US.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IS WELL DOCUMENTED, BUT WE ALSO KNOW SOME STUDENTS WERE FALLING BEHIND BEFORE 2020, WITH THE PANDEMIC ONLY MAKING THINGS WORSE.

BUT THE STATE HAS A PLAN TO RIGHT THE SHIP IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

JOSHUA SENEGAL BREAKS DOWN DECADES LONG LEGAL FIGHTS THAT BROUGHT US HERE.

>> THE COMPREHENSIVE REMEDIAL PLAN IS THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THE ONGOING COURT CASE LEANDRO VERSUS STATE.

IN 1994, SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 5 LOWER-INCOME COUNTIES HOKE, HALIFAX, ROBESON VANCE AND CUMBERLAND SUED THE STATE.

THEY CLAIMED THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GIVE THEIR STUDENTS IN EQUAL EDUCATION AND, THEY ARGUED THE INCOME OF A CHILD'S FAMILY OR THEIR COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF THEIR EDUCATION.

A FEW YEARS, LATER THE STATE SUPREME COURT AGREED, SAYING EVERY STUDENT IN THE STATE HAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION.

THE CASE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL COURTS AND JUDGES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN 2001 THAT THE STATE WAS NOT PROVIDING THAT RIGHT FOR AT RISK STUDENTS.

AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WAS BROUGHT IN TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE STATE COULD ACHIEVE THAT GOAL WITH WEST ED RELEASING ITS FINAL REPORT IN OCTOBER OF 2019.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE DAVID LEE CONCLUDED THAT THE STATE WAS STILL MISSING THE MARK SO HE ORDERED THEM TO PRESENT PLANS FOR CHANGING THAT.

JUDGE LEE WILL NOW REVIEW THE PLAN WHICH SAYS THE STATE AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION INTEND TO REACH THEIR LISTED GOALS BY 2028, BUT THE COST OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN COULD BE ANOTHER HURDLE.

TO HELP US BREAK THIS DOWN, WE HAVE HAROLD DIXON PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA PTA, AND JASON JOYNER WHO WORKS WITH BOTH THE ASSOCIATION AND LAWMAKERS ON MATTERS OF EDUCATION.

AND JASON I WILL START WITH YOU FIRST CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THIS COMPREHENSIVE REMEDIAL PLAN BECAUSE 5.6 BILLION IS A BIG TICKET ITEM.

>> CERTAINLY IS, AND WHEN YOU PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU KNOW WHILE THE LEANDRO CASE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WELL OVER 25 YEARS AND WE OFTEN REFER TO IT IN MEANS OF FUNDING.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS THE AUTHORITY HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THOSE APPROPRIATIONS AND TODAY, THEY'VE NOT REALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS CONVERSATION AS THE CASE HAS BEEN BETWEEN THE STATE BOARD ON THE STATE.

THE PLAN THAT THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN HIS BUDGET WHICH WAS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, STRETCHES FUNDS OUT OF 8 MILLION OVER ABOUT 8 YEARS.

HIS INITIAL FUNDING PIECE IS A LITTLE OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN YEAR ONE.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LANDS, BUT TRYING TO GET ADEQUATE RESOURCES, BUT ALSO EQUITABLE RESOURCES TO DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> HAROLD THIS HAS BEEN A LONG FIGHT OR IT'S JUST BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE END OF THE FIGHT.

WHY ARE WE JUST NOW SEEING SOME SOME CHANGES OR SEEING THIS KIND OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I KNOW THAT THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN OTHERS, BUT WHY HAS THIS BEEN SO LONG IN COMING?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS WHEN YOU THINK OF FUNDING IN -- TO PARENTS IN GENERAL, WE ALL THINK THAT SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED EQUALLY.

IT WAS ONLY UNTIL I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS LEANDRO REPORT, AND I FOUND OUT HOW SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA AND TELL PEOPLE THAT AWARENESS IS OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE REALLY TRULY UNDERSTANDS HOW SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.

SO TO YOUR QUESTION IS WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG?

PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW, PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND AND IT TOOK JASON AND HIS TEAM TO EXPLAIN IT TO US AT NCPTA HOW THIS IS FUNDED AND WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS.

I'M ASSUMING MOST PARENTS JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WAY SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.

>> I THINK PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU SAID DON'T UNDERSTAND, SO JASON CAN YOU HELP US KIND OF CLARIFY YOU KNOW HOW DO OUR SCHOOLS GET FUNDED?

>> YES, SO IT'S A MIX OF THE FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL DOLLARS BUT PRIMARILY STATE DOLLARS FUND EDUCATION AND MAKES UP THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE STATE BUDGET.

WHERE THE INEQUITY WE SEE COMES IN IS REALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IF YOU'RE IN A WAKE, OR MECKLENBURG, OR NEW HANOVER COUNTY, CARRBORO, FOR INSTANCE, HAS A $5,000 ADDITIONAL ALLOTMENT THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR EVERY CHILD, WHERE GREENE COUNTY PROVIDE $700 PER CHILD.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, EVEN IF WE START AT AN EQUAL PLACE WITH STATE FUNDING, COMMUNITIES OF WEALTH AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MORE ECONOMICALLY MOBILE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENHANCE THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF WAYS BUT SPECIFICALLY WITH FUNDING AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT FOR INSTANCE GREENE COUNTY WANTED TO DO TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS THE TAX BASE SIMPLY IS NOT THERE.

>> SO THIS KIND OF A PLAN CAN HELP OFFSET THAT AND IS CREATED SO THAT THOSE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE LESS FUNDS PER CHILD WE'LL GET MORE OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MONEY?

>> YES, IN THE REMEDIAL PLAN IT DISCUSSES LOW WEALTH DISTRICTS AND HOW TO PARTICULARLY INTERVENE THERE.

SOME OF IT IS NOT DIRECTLY FUNDING, SOME OF IT IS FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS LIKE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO TRY TO GET A HEAD START ON THINGS.

THE OTHER PORTION IS IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDING IS IS ADDRESSING THE OVERALL QUALITY OF EDUCATION JUDGE MANNING WHO PREVIOUSLY WAS THE JUDGE IN THIS CASE SAID A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT YOU KNOW IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING, BUT IT ALSO IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL QUALITY AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT PTA'S PERSPECTIVE IS TO TRY TO GET THE SAME QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD IN NORTH CAROLINA, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ZIP CODE OR SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY'RE IN.

>> THAT CERTAINLY WANT TO ASK ABOUT FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THIS COMPREHENSIVE REMEDIAL PLAN, IF THAT EXISTS OR HOW CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING EATS INTO IT.

BUT FIRST, HAROLD I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT THIS PLAN IS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR?

I UNDERSTAND JUST LIKE JASON SAID IT'S NOT JUST FUNDING TO THE DISTRICT BUT ALSO FOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL LIKE NURSES, SPECIAL ED CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP FUND?

>> SO ONE OF THE KEY AREAS IS AN AREA THAT I WORK IN FAMILY ENGAGEMENT FOR EXAMPLE.

A WAKE COUNTY OR A MECKLENBERG COUNTY CAN AFFORD TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT WILL FOCUS ON ENGAGING FAMILIES AT A HIGHER LEVEL MEANING CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH CURRICULUM, CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH THE SCHOOL AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM WHEREAS YOUR STUDENT SCHOOLS OUT IN HALIFAX COUNTY AREA FOR EXAMPLE, THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE NOT ONLY A DEPARTMENT, BUT ONE PERSON DEDICATED TO THAT WORK.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE INEQUITIES OF HOW THIS IS FUNDED.

JUST LIKE YOU SAID, TEACHER PAY.

TEACHERS WHO WORK IN MECKLENBURG EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A STATE BASED FUND, BUT THE COUNTY CAN COME ON TOP OF THAT AND ADD TO THAT.

TWO OR $3,000 TO A STARTING TEACHER'S SALARY.

WHEREAS IN THE EASTERN PART OF NORTH CAROLINA, THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE BECAUSE THE FUNDING AND THE WAY WE'RE FUNDED IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THOSE ARE JUST 2 EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS IS NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

>> AND THEN I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS FOR NURSES IN SCHOOLS, THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS INTERVENERS WHO CAN HELP KIDS WHO ARE COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AS WELL, SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT THIS MIGHT PROVIDE FOR.

>> SO AGAIN HERE IN MECKLENBERG WE ARE BLESSED THAT WE HAVE A COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I'M ALMOST CERTAIN JASON, CORRECT IF I'M WRONG, BUT IN THOSE SCHOOLS WHO ARE UNDERFUNDED, LIKE SOME EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT EXIST.

ON THIS PROPOSAL, WHAT WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT AND MAKE IT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL OF US, JASON, IF I'M OFF BASE, CORRECT ME.

BUT I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT JASON POINTED OUT EARLIER COULD HAVE THOSE DEPARTMENTS THOSE SCHOOL NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, THOSE COUNSELORS WHEREAS THOSE SCHOOLS IN THOSE CHALLENGED AREAS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

JASON IF YOU COULD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY AND HAROLD'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THE WAY ALL OF US WHAT WE REFER TO AS WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE STUDENT, THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN WHERE THEY'RE FUNDED AND THAT REALLY GOES BACK TO THE FUNDING FORMULA ITSELF.

ONE THING THAT I THINK WE CAN SAY THAT MOST FOLKS AGREE ON NOW, INCLUDING SENATOR MICHAEL LEE, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE EDUCATION, THE GOVERNOR, IS THAT THE FUNDING FORMULA IN NORTH CAROLINA COULD USE REFORM AND THAT THE WAY THAT WE PROVIDE THOSE FUNDS AND THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE ALLOW TO THE LOCAL AGENCIES TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM AND HOW TO GET THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN PLACE, THAT'S A PART OF THIS REMEDIAL PLAN,THAT'S A PART OF BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN THE PAST AND THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN.

>> AND JUST VERY QUICKLY JASON AS WE CONSIDER ALL THE SCHOOLS IN THAT PRE K, DOES THIS INCLUDE COVERAGE FOR OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS, PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS?

>> YES, SO THE THE PLAN ITSELF INCLUDES FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I WILL SAY THAT YOU KNOW, IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS PARTICULAR LEANDRO RULING, IF YOU THINK BACK WHEN THE LEANDRO CASE WAS INITIALLY TRIED, THE GOVERNOR WAS A SENATOR, SENATOR DAN BLUE WAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THE INTERNET WAS NOT A THING THAT TRULY EXISTED IN A USEABLE AWAY.

LOTS OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND CHARTER SCHOOLS DO NOT EXIST.

THEY DIDN'T COME INTO EXISTENCE UNTIL 1997.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE, BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION THAT STARTED THIS LAWSUIT 25 YEARS AGO REMAINS TODAY, AND I SEE BROAD COMMITMENT TO TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT SOMETIMES JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE GET THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL JASON JOYNER HAROLD DIXON THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REACH US ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM JUST USE THE HASHTAG NCBLACKISSUES, YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUR OTHER EPISODES ON PBSNC.ORG/BLACKISSUESFORUM.

I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

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