Special to IFN
Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Jeff James, community leaders, educators, and residents will gather at South Iredell High School Performing Arts Center on Sunday, February 22, for an interactive presentation, panel discussion, and advocacy workshop focused on strengthening public education and connecting I-SS schools with resources designed to invest in students and educators.
The event, which begins at 4 p.m., is part of the statewide #IAmLeandro Campaign, launched in 2024 to engage communities across North Carolina in understanding Leandro v. North Carolina. The North Carolina Supreme Court, in the landmark case, affirmed every child’s constitutional right to a “sound, basic education.” The court found the state deficient in meeting this obligation and directed implementation of an eight-year Comprehensive Remedial Plan, developed by national education experts, requiring approximately $5.54 billion to address longstanding inequities in staffing, resources, and educational opportunity.
Sunday’s event also coincides with the two-year anniversary of the North Carolina Supreme Court hearing arguments in the case again. The verdict in the Leandro case remains pending, with communities and school districts across the state still awaiting final resolution.
Connecting the Conversation to Resources
A key focus of the Statesville gathering is helping community members understand how the Leandro Plan would translate into long-promised financial investments and tangible interventions for local schools, educators, and families once the constitutionally mandated funds are delivered.
District-level projections by Every Child NC show that implementation could increase K–12 funding for Iredell-Statesville Schools by an estimated $37.2 million, representing roughly a 30 percent budget increase. These resources could expand instructional support staff, strengthen early childhood programs, enhance classroom materials, and provide additional professional development for teachers—investments designed to meet the specific needs of students in this community.
Event Overview
The Statesville program will include:
♦ A community presentation explaining the history, court rulings, and current status of Leandro v. N.C.;
♦ An interdisciplinary panel discussion featuring leaders from education, healthcare, economic development, and community advocacy;
♦ A capacity-building workshop to help participants understand why this issue matters locally and how to engage constructively; an d
♦ Practical tools for outreach, storytelling, and civic engagement
The workshop is designed to help participants connect policy to real-world outcomes and build confidence communicating about the issue with neighbors, colleagues, and policymakers.
Panelists
The Community Conversation will feature a cross-sector panel reflecting the broad community impact of strong public schools:
♦ Rebecca Trammel — Lead Advocate, #IAmLeandro Campaign
♦ Rocky Cabignot — Community Leader
♦ Jeff James — Superintendent, Iredell-Statesville Schools
♦ Eric Todd Scott — President, Statesville Branch NAACP #5454
♦ Lisa Familia — Executive Director, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
♦ Miles Atkins — Chair, Iredell Health Systems Foundation
This interdisciplinary panel underscores how educational investment affects not only classrooms but also workforce readiness, child development, public health outcomes, and long-term economic vitality.
Building Local Capacity for Impact
Organizers emphasize that the event is not simply informational; it is designed to help the community translate awareness into action by understanding available resources, strengthening partnerships, and preparing for long-term impact.
“This conversation is about connecting the dots between the court decisions, the resources identified to meet those obligations, and what that means for real communities like Iredell-Statesville,” said Rebecca Trammel, Lead Advocate of the #IAmLeandro Campaign. “When we bring parents, educators, health leaders, business voices, and families to the same table, we begin to see that investing in public education is foundational to the strength and future of the entire community.”