Rachel Keith

On Tuesday, the New Hanover County school board agreed to collectively ask the state legislature to improve funding for exceptional children — those are students who often have additional educational needs. However, NHCS Superintendent Dr. Christopher Barnes said there are financial needs beyond EC. The board also unanimously voted to improve public access to agenda review items.

On today’s show, we’re looking back at the year that was 2025 with my colleagues, Rachel Keith, Aaleah McConnell, Kelly Kenoyer, and Nikolai Mather. From the local impacts of DOGE and the Trump Administration to the struggles over education funding, from rural reporting to community engagement, we’ll recap the toughest, most rewarding, and some of the most fun stories of the year.

On Monday, December 5, Alderman Elementary teaching assistant Minnie Clark was sent a termination letter for “misconduct and failure to follow NHCS policies.”

A retired Wilmington-area nurse knew that many families in her community struggle to afford diapers, so she picked a volunteer job where she could really help.

Last month ExCEL NC, a coalition of business leaders, hosted a data presentation and panel to address the child care industry. Proposed solutions included raising child care center reimbursement rates, providing reimbursements based on enrollment rather than attendance, increasing employer tax deductions for child care, and changing liability insurance laws.

The holidays are fast approaching, and infectious disease experts advise vigilance for circulating viruses and bacterial infections. In particular, the flu has come early and will likely stick around.

On Wednesday, at Alderman Elementary, students witnessed a physical incident between an educator and a student. The student's family sent a statement about the altercation to WHQR.

Because of the UNC System’s equality policy, passed last year, funds, programs, and personnel intended for specific groups, such as Black or Hispanic students, had to be redirected to the general student population. While the university argues that those students are still being served, those who used to lead some of UNCW's Student Centers, like the Upperman African American Cultural Center and Centro Hispano, say they’re not seeing the impact they once had.

On Tuesday, the New Hanover County school board elected chair and vice-chair positions. The board also pushed two public engagement policies back to committee and voted to send a resolution to the General Assembly to increase funding for exceptional children.

On Monday, the New Hanover County school board voted down a proposal to start an employee bonus committee in the spring. Instead, it’s slated to begin next school year. While the vote was 4-3, with Republicans Pete Wildeboer, David Perry, Melissa Mason, and Democrat Tim Merrick in favor, it required a supermajority to pass because it amended a prior vote. The board also discussed its annual financial audit and debated items related to government transparency.