Guilford educators, residents call for more support for schools in county budget

Guilford residents, parents and educators are advocating for an increase in funding for schools in the county budget.

The recommended $842 million budget keeps the property tax rate flat, but falls short of Guilford County Schools' funding request. The county manager is proposing a $2.5 million increase for the district, well below the $44 million being sought.

Dozens spoke out at a Guilford County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday that this wouldn't fulfill the urgent needs of schools.

Rondeshia Wallace, a cafeteria manager at Peck Elementary School, was one of several speakers. She said the budget is a moral document that shows who the county is willing to fight for.

"If it is not fully funded, the people who will suffer the most aren't sitting in this room," Wallace said. "They are sitting in our classrooms. They are eating lunch in our cafeterias. They are riding our buses. They are our future, and we cannot leave them in the gap."

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote on the budget on June 18.