Taylor Faces Criticism Over Special Ed Job Cuts

0:00It's March 25. This is Durham News today, AI-powered stories from your city. Wade County School Superintendent Robert Taylor is facing sharp criticism from board members over his handling of a plan to cut 130. Special education teaching jobs. The proposal aims to slash $18 million from next year's special ed budget after federal grant funds ran short. Earlier this month, staff warned that unspenged grants they once used for ongoing costs would no longer cover them, forcing the reductions. Board members questioned why leaders didn't alert the public, state lawmakers, or Congress, sooner to avoid hitting special education so hard. Tensions boiled over at a recent meeting, with parents, teachers, and educators protesting outside schools. Board Vice Chair Sam Hershey and others called out staff for inconsistent information, saying it arose trust and hurts morale. Taylor, who started in September 2023 and got his contract extended to June 2029, owns

1:00the blame as the top leader. Firing him would require a cause or a payout of his $339,930 annual salary. Taylor admitted communication fell short and pledged tighter oversight of staff to rebuild confidence amid the ongoing budget fight.