Sen. Daniel Statement on N.C. School of Science and Math-Morganton Delay

Raleigh, N.C. — Leaders of the North Carolina School of Science and Math today announced they would delay opening the new Morganton campus for one year because Governor Roy Cooper and Senate Democrats continue to block funding the school needs to operate.

Senator Warren Daniel (R-Burke), whose district includes the new school, issued the following statement:

“In addition to blocking critical funding for the N.C. School of Science and Math’s Morganton campus, Governor Cooper has also blocked funding for public school construction, teacher pay raises, and in-home care for children with disabilities.

“The victims of his ill-advised Medicaid expansion-or-nothing ultimatum are piling up, and students and teachers all across the state are suffering the consequences. Governor Cooper seems more focused on fighting Republicans than governing this state, and now innocent high school students in my community and across western North Carolina are having their educational opportunities vetoed.”

Governor Cooper has also objected to using cash on hand to pay for school construction. The state has about $2.5 billion sitting in an account, and the budget that Governor Cooper vetoed would use much of that cash to pay for new schools.

Instead, Governor Cooper has proposed borrowing billions for school construction, a plan which the state’s nonpartisan Fiscal Research Division says would require the taxpayers to pay about $2.4 billion in interest over the next 30 years.

Other projects delayed or canceled because of Governor Cooper’s vetoes include the ECU Brody of School of Medicine ($215 million), Elizabeth City State University Library ($32 million), NC A&T Carver Hall ($18.5 million), and an N.C. State STEM building ($80 million).