BY KARISSA MILLER
Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education members clashed on Monday over the selection of a permanent chair, delays in filling the vacant District 2 seat on the board and public comment policy.
The 4 p.m. meeting was marked by tense back-and-forth exchanges between board members followed by accusations of a rigged appointment to the board and the “orchestration” of the public comment period.
The friction began immediately when board member Brian Sloan moved to hold an election for a permanent board chair. The seat has been effectively vacant since the departure of former chair Kevin Angell following an incident with board member Mike Kubiniec that almost came to blows.
Kubiniec, who seconded Sloan’s motion, said that board policy requires an election at the next regular meeting following a vacancy. He asked why the vote for a permanent chair was not placed on the agenda.
Acting board chair Doug Knight explained that he chose not to include the election on Monday’s meeting agenda because the previous vote had ended in a tie.
“I didn’t go through a perfunctory vote,” Knight told the board. “I figured it would be 3 to 3.”
School board attorney Dean Shatley spoke up in an attempt to provide context.
“Mr. Shatley, you were not recognized to speak,” Kubiniec said to him.
Shatley went quiet.
“Mr. Kubiniec, you will not chastise legal,” Knight said as Kubiniec continued to try and talk over him.
The acting chair warned Kubiniec that he would ask him to leave if there are any more outbursts or disruptions to the meeting.
The motion to add the election of a permanent chair to the agenda failed after a 3 to 3 tie, leaving Knight in the acting chair position for the foreseeable future.
Despite their differences, board members did vote to accept Angell’s resignation of the District 2 seat. Angell resigned his seat in late January following an altercation with board member Kubiniec.
Board member Cindy Haynes cast the opposing vote. She previously stated she would not accept Angell’s resignation until Kubiniec resigned from the school board.
District 2 seat
Next, the board turned its attention to the District 2 vacancy.
The Iredell County Republican Party Executive Committee nominated Matthew Youngblood, a teacher at Statesville Christian School, to fill the empty seat during a meeting last month.
Sloan made a motion Monday to appoint Youngblood as the District 2 representative on the board.
“I think this motion is pretty self-explanatory…we are already a month late putting him on the board,” Sloan said. “We accepted Mrs. Haynes’ (nomination) the next meeting, in which we should have. I think the same should be done for Mr. Youngblood.”
“I one hundred percent support this motion,” Kubiniec said.
Anita Kurn, who also supported the nomination, called the GOP’s selection process was “rigorous” and “democratic.”
“We had a lengthy debate with several candidates. The candidates had ample time to speak. The guests had ample time to ask questions. It was a very thorough vote. It was done in accordance with N.C. General Statute,” Kurn said.
Knight, however, voiced his concerns about the selection process.
“I do have concerns with whether the state law was followed for that vote,” Knight said, noting that the process seemed different from past appointments.
Board member Ronda Hoke also questioned whether the nomination process followed statutory procedures.
“I think there was a pre-determined decision, before this thing was even made —that they already knew who they wanted for this position. I think there’s too many conflicts of interest going on here.
“I’m sorry, if it touches toes,” he added, “but we’ve got people on this dais that are on the executive committee … they were there to influence a vote from that side and are here on this side to accept that vote.”
Hoke mentioned that the process was not the same as it was done when Haynes was selected as the District 3 school board member by the executive committee in 2025.
He also questioned why long-time District 2 board member Charles Kelly, who expressed his interest in filling the open seat, did not emerge as the best person for the job.
“After all the interviews, we had a man standing there who had been on this board for 20 years. He was elected by the people of District 2 for five consecutive terms. Five terms,” Hoke said.
The discussion quickly expanded beyond whether to accept the GOP’s nomination.
“Can we hear the differences (in how Haynes was elected)?” Sloan asked. “We can’t just say there were differences.”
“The GOP executive committee knows how it went with me. If this goes to court, I need to save that evidence for that moment,” Haynes replied.
Kurn said that Haynes could vote for herself and that Haynes did not have any opposition.
“It was a much more rigorous process for Mr. Youngblood than it was for Cindy. I applaud you for rising to that debate and winning that appointment,” Kurn said.
Kubiniec called for a motion to vote on accepting Youngblood’s nomination. The motion failed after ending in a 3-3 tie. Sloan, Kubiniec and Kurn supported the motion. Knight, Hoke and Haynes did not.
Superintendent Jeff James, in an interview, said that the matter will likely be resolved in court.
“They will have to prove that the process that they used was legal,” James said.
Public comment discussion
The board also continued to disagree over the timing of the monthly public comment period.
Kubiniec asked to move the public comment period to the beginning of the meeting. He argued that the board should show “respect and kindness” to parents and the elderly who currently have to wait hours to be heard at the end of meetings.
Haynes disagreed. She stated that the public comment period has become “orchestrated” and there’s a “warped view of reality.”
Haynes claims that during a two-hour phone with Kubiniec, he admitted to organizing speakers for the public comment period.
“I’m hoping that there will be no minor children present when public comments are being heard,” Haynes said, citing concerns over “non-child friendly” language being used by some of the speakers.
The board voted on a motion to move the public comment period the beginning of the meeting. That vote also ended in a 3-3 tie, meaning it will remain at the end of the meeting.
Playing politics
After the board refused to appoint Youngblood to the District 2 seat, board members Sloan, Kurn and Kubiniec would not vote to support any routine agenda items later that evening.
Among those items, included an easement at the new Weathers Creek High School, the current expense budget request, an activity bus and multiple policy updates (that impact graduation, military students and school employees).
The acting chairman said the board had lost sight of its mission.
“I’m concerned. This will impact the schools and the kids. This is letting politics impact education. Kids are more important than politics,” Knight said.
There’s been a lot of discussion about the recent board meeting, so it’s important to clarify a few things.
The “no” votes on several agenda items were not votes against those projects. They were a statement that major decisions—especially those involving taxpayer dollars and a new school in that district—should not move forward while that District 2 remains without representation.
At the same time, concerns were raised suggesting the selection of the replacement board member was somehow “predetermined” or improperly influenced. If there are specific issues with the process, they should be clearly identified. But general claims without facts or a stated rule that was broken do not change what matters most: the recommendation was made by the proper authority, following the required process. Legal guidance was even sought to ensure it was done correctly.
At this point, the situation is no longer about whether a vacancy exists—it does. It is no longer about whether a candidate was selected—he was.
The question now is whether unproven concerns are being used to delay seating a duly selected representative, while an entire district remains without a voice at the table.
This isn’t about politics or personalities. It’s about making sure every community has representation before decisions that affect them are made.
Representation should come first. Delaying that representation without clear cause only raises more questions.
Really? And since Mr. Youngblood works for Statesville Christian School how is he qualified to sit on the board for public education? Like Ms. Thunderdome with her children in private schools. Why are they so interested in making decisions for a public education they do not support?
Ah yes and biased reporting again by IFN. All of the haters who have been all the conservatives should be ashamed of themselves. What we saw was pure obstructionism by liberal members. They are pissed because they know they’re going to lose control and that Jeff James will now be accountable to the board rather than controlling the board.
This report is really fairly objective and summarizes the school board meeting fairly well. What emerges is that Knight, Hoke, and Haynes just don’t like the person chosen by the Republican Party executive committee, and they refuse to seat Mr, Youngblood. It’s acting-chair Doug Knight and his two cohorts who are playing politics.
I have never read of more “public servant” dysfunction! It goes on and on at every meeting.
Kubiniec and Kurn absolutely need to go! It’s all about their power trips and they care NOTHING about the children they were voted in to serve.
ALL of these jokers need to resign!
Clean house! Get rid of them all and start over!
Wow! November Elections are going to be very interesting. We have School Board Members and Mayors in Iredell County not very concerned with our own Citizens!
Looks like Captain Krankypants is even crankier than normal since he lost his NC House primary election. I guess his plan is to gum up the works as much as possible until his term on the school board ends. The circus continues. How embarrassing.
What everyone must know is that Mike Kubiniec has brain washed many people into believing that Dr. James is a bad person. Not true. Everyone must remember that Kubiniec was removed from vice chairman by another board and that board also censured him. Many of his followers believe that did not happen, but it did. He has people come and read a script which he has written to make it seem as though people believe as he does. In the recent primary election, a yellow sheet was passed out to voters; they were told many things. Certain candidates on the sheet were unfairly made to look badly. Since Kubiniec was elected, he has been trying to destroy a great school system. He has convinced others that he is right. He has wanted to fire Dr. James since he came on the board — for what reason I don’t know. Kubiniec is the problem, along with his brain-washed followers. In my opinion, Kubiniec is a cancer which should be cut out.
Here is what should happen.
1. The board should immediately seat youngblood.
2. After swearing in, the board should immediately fire Dr. James.
3. Then, the board should immediately make a motion to appoint “Captain K” as superintendent.
4. Anita Kurn should then be appointed board chairman.
“CAPTAIN K” is clearly the ONLY qualified person to lead this school district.
Let’s get this right!
Why don’t they worry about the Children? Iredell County needs more Special Needs Classes and Teachers that will help them. These meetings are ridiculous. Always the same people acting out and wanting control. Think more about helping the Children have safe environments, no bullying and get a good education regardless of who they are.
Once again I find myself needing to respond with my comments and opinions regarding the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education meeting of March 16, 2026.
Mr. Kubenick, Ms. Kurn, and Mr. Sloan do not understand or are unwilling to carry out the duties of the taxpayers and students from the district they were elected to represent. They not only failed to represent their districts, but voted to harm the taxpayers and students from from other districts. (Nay votes on the proposed budget, an easement for Weathers Creek HS (causing construction delays), Course of Study (possibly affecting graduations), an activity bus (will now cost more money) and lawful policies.
Instead, of carrying out their sworn duties they opted to obstruct the serious business of the board through petty and political motivated actions, having to do with seating of Mr. Youngblood.
Mr. Matthew Youngblood/seating . I have no knowledge of how the selection process was done, but if there is nothing to hide why was this not just tabled until conversations and clarifications could be made. I do believe his appointment is political in nature. I truly believe there were other candidates better qualified for the position that had experience in serving the taxpayers of Iredell County.
Regarding Mr. Youngblood, I absolutely have heartburn related to his selection. I personally do not believe a private Christian school teacher/administrator can understand nor have the best interest in public education in mind. In addition I need someone to explain why a grown man (former Marine) needs his Mommy to get up and defend his selection. My children and grandchildren would be mortified if I had pulled that kind of behavior
Public comments — The same three obstructionists (Kurn, Sloan and Kubenick) argue that moving public comments would benefit speakers who have children to attend to on a school night. Yet, only two of the speakers had children. The remaining speakers did not have children or grandchildren in the I-SS system; therefore moving the comments to earlier in the agenda was once again a political stunt.
Comments not relating specifically to students were all political in nature, and I for one have had enough of those comments. Public comments should be about the school system and students — not who was or was not seated on the board
I agree with another comment made. It definitely appears Mr. Kubiniec has high disrespect for law, protocol, decorum and democracy, and Dr. James. While I do not always agree with Dr. James, he is doing a much better job than I initially thought he would when he was hired. I would not want his job for anything. (I do wish he would learn the difference between letters and numbers on the agenda).
Lastly to all the board, teachers administrators and others, let’s start respectfully referring to the school children as students, not kids. We do not have the money on or the experience to educate baby goats.
Shocker that Kubiniec is causing issues again. Seems to me this guy needs to lose another election.
The acting chair with Superintendent James guidance are not obeying NC law by seating Matthew Youngblood, an excellent balanced candidate. They voted on $30 million of spending while leaving 15,000 voters unrepresented. Matthew Youngblood was in attendance and could have been seated, adding the needed seventh member to break the voting impasse. Why are the Superintendent and Vice chair willing to burn down the school system is the real question?
Superintendent is the employee of the board. He has no authority in seating any board member. Glad he continues to focus on the system instead of the circus going on.
This board is a freaking JOKE!! There are ways to have Captain Kangaroo removed. It’s at the STATE level. This man is DISGRACE to our school system. How embarrassing to watch this freak show take place every single month. Captain Kangaroo needs to be REMOVED and I feel that you need to make this happen at the State level. Disgrace to the our school system. OUR STUDENTS are what is important here people, not this freak show every month.