FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, July 16, 2020
CONTACT: Liz Doherty
Forest Offers Criticism on Schools Reopening, But Neglected to Attend HALF of State Board of Education Meetings
RALEIGH — Yesterday, in a radio interview, Dan Forest criticized Governor Cooper’s plan to reopen K-12 schools, claiming that it is not “a plan.” In the interview, Forest failed to mention he has missed HALF of the State Board of Education meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak.
During the meetings that Forest skipped, the State Board of Education:
- Discussed extending a contact with the potential for online learning during statewide school closures;
- Voted on major changes to grading and graduation requirements and millions in support for school districts to address COVID-19;
- Voted on adjusting grading and graduation requirements;
- Voted on requiring schools to develop remote learning plans for the 2020-21 school year;
- Heard a COVID-19 update from NC DHHS;
- Voted to revise the history requirement for students, delaying the implementation of Forest’s proposed personal finance course, to include “the hard truths of history” and racial issues in light of recent protests.
As Lt. Governor, Forest has made a habit of political grandstanding instead of actually putting in the work. On Monday, April 1st, he put out a statement “criticizing State Board of Education’s decision not to extend Istation’s contract past March 31 for K-3 reading diagnostic assessments.” But he didn’t even show up to the Friday meeting to vote on the issue.
Liz Doherty, spokesperson for Cooper for NC, said, “The fact that Dan Forest missed 50% of State Board of Education meetings during COVID and still feels qualified to weigh in on this discussion tells you everything you need to know. Forest is unwilling to put in the work. He is unprepared and unfit to lead.”
READ MORE: “Dan Forest Fails to Attend HALF of State Board of Education Meetings.”
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