Candidate Q&A: Lee County Board of Education

Early voting in Lee County begins on Thursday, October 15, and there are several races on the ballot. The Rant asked questions to several of the candidates for office and published the answers in September and October. Answers from candidates for the Lee County Board of Education are below. The answers are published as submitted, with no edits.

All three seats on the ballot are at large, and voters may choose up to three. The candidates are Democrat Patrick Kelly, Republican Karla Koballa, Republican Alan Rummel, and Republican Laura Stryfeller.

Early voting is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday between October 15 and October 30, as well as from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 18 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31.

1) Introduce yourself, give your professional and educational background, and tell readers why you’re the best candidate for the seat you’re seeking. If you’re an incumbent, describe some of the accomplishments you’re proud of from your most recent term. If not, tell readers what you’ll bring to the board that’s currently lacking.

Patrick Kelly: My name is Patrick Kelly, and I was born and raised in Sanford, North Carolina. I grew up on a family farm and graduated from Lee Senior High School in 2003. I earned my undergraduate and master’s degrees from Western Carolina University in 2007 and 2009.

I spent 14 years working in education and previously served two terms on the Lee County Board of Education, with my most recent term ending in 2024. I am also a volunteer firefighter and the owner of The Pint Sized Pasture, a local agritourism business. Most importantly, I am a parent of two children currently attending Lee County Schools.

My background gives me a unique perspective as an educator, former board member, business owner, community volunteer, and parent. I understand our school system from multiple sides and know both the progress we have made and the work that remains. I am seeking this seat again because I believe my experience, commitment to Lee County, and understanding of our schools will allow me to continue making thoughtful decisions that put students, staff, and our community first.

Karla Koballa: I was born and raised in Sanford, North Carolina. My educational journey started at St. Clair elementary school and continued through Sanford Central high school. I earned my bachelor of science degree from UNC Wilmington. After that, I had a fulfilling career as the corporate secretary at Cooper mechanical contractors. I also worked at Central Carolina Hospital as a pharmacy technician and now I teach that program at CCCC. I’m excited to bring my background and dedication to our school board.

Alan Rummel: I’m Alan Rummel, a current member of the Lee County Board of Education. I spent nearly my entire adult life working at Caterpillar in various roles that translated very well to board governance. While working, I earned an associate degree in Machining Technology from CCCC and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from ECU.

There are several things I’ve been a part of on the Board that I’m very proud of. I helped bring in new district leadership with a renewed focus on student achievement. I worked with that leadership team and a diverse group from across the county to create the district’s first strategic plan in more than 10 years.

I made the motion to bring in a third party to audit district performance, which led to millions of dollars in savings, streamlined operations, and more consistent instructional materials across the district. I championed initiatives to reduce student screen time, increase physical activity, and return to printed textbooks and workbooks to help students focus on learning.

I’ve also joined board members from across North Carolina to advocate for better education policies and funding formulas at the state level.

I’m excited for the opportunity to continue this work for another term.

Laura Stryffeler: I have been a resident of Lee County for 35 + years and raised 4 sons who completed K-12 here. My sons have gone on to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees. I have been a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) for 20+ years caring for children and their families. 

Working with this population, I see first hand the growth and development issues that occur and the impact of academics on these children.

My goal in being appointed to Marcus Mason’s open position due to his untimely death, is to help the Lee County School Board work to improve and foster a thriving environment for children. I will also be on the ballot this fall for an open position on the School Board.

2) Funding has continued to be a source of friction between the Lee County Board of Education and the Lee County Board of Commissioners. At what level should the county fund public education, and what actions would you take as a member of the school board to ensure that happens?

Kelly: County Commissioners have a difficult job of determining how to fund the many needs and priorities throughout Lee County. Those decisions are not always easy. The Board of Education faces many of the same challenges when determining how to best use the funding available while listening to the concerns and needs of teachers, staff, students, and families.

I believe Lee County should fund public education at a level that supports the actual needs of our schools while remaining responsible to taxpayers. The Board of Education also has a responsibility to carefully evaluate spending, prioritize needs, and be able to clearly explain where funding is going and why it is necessary.

As a school board member, I would work to strengthen communication between the Board of Education and County Commissioners throughout the year, not just during budget season. Both boards serve the same community, and neither will always get everything it wants. Open communication, transparency, and a willingness to work together are essential to making responsible decisions that provide our schools with the resources they need while respecting the county’s other obligations.

Koballa: The real question isn’t just how much we spend on education, but what kind of future we want for our children and whether we’re willing to invest in it.

Rummel: When I joined the Board in late 2022, I took over the Finance Committee, which has now been rolled into the Operations Committee. I presented the school system’s funding request to the County Commissioners twice and strongly advocated for additional funding, particularly to address local cost-of-living increases.

Although I wasn’t successful in securing the full requested increases, we did receive greater funding increases than in previous years, when the Board and administration took a much softer approach to those requests.

I’m not satisfied with where we are, but there’s no doubt that the relationship between the two boards is in much better shape than when I started. Commissioners also have better and more complete information about the state of the school system and the reasons behind our increased funding requests.

Given another term, I’ll make sure we continue to refine our budget requests using relevant data to demonstrate to the Commissioners that what we’re asking for is justified and necessary.

Stryffeler: In order to help Lee County schools meet their ongoing obligations to provide a basic education to our children, it is imperative that the School Board work with the Lee County Board of Commissioners to help align planning and monies to meet the demands of our growing county population. Only through open dialogue can we hope to meet the challenges this community has and will have in the future.

3) Lee County is growing fast – faster even than many in recent years have been predicting. What steps do you think the school board should take to address needs in the public education space, both in the short term and the long term?

Kelly: Lee County’s rapid growth is creating significant challenges for our infrastructure, and our schools are not the only area feeling the impact. Emergency services, roads, utilities, and other county resources are also being stretched. We have to be proactive about future growth while also being reactive to the challenges that are already here.

I know there are plans underway for new schools and a new bus garage, and those are important steps. But we also have to ask, “What’s next?” Where will the next areas of growth be? Do our current schools have the capacity to handle additional students? What will our staffing, transportation, and facility needs look like five or ten years from now?

The school board needs to work closely with County Commissioners, planning officials, and other county leaders so that school needs are considered as Lee County continues to develop.

We cannot wait until schools are overcrowded or resources are stretched beyond capacity before responding. We need a long-term plan that is regularly reviewed and adjusted as growth occurs, while also addressing the immediate needs that growth has already created.

Koballa: Lee County’s growth brings both opportunities and challenges. New families, jobs and investment can benefit our community, but many residents are concerned about traffic, infrastructure, and whether schools and public services can keep up. Those concerns are valid and deserve attention.

Rummel: After completing an internal enrollment projection using information from the County Planner that was mostly ignored, the Board contracted with ITRE at NC State to conduct a similar study in hopes that independent data would be more trusted by the County Commissioners.

We’ve used that study to inform our long-term capital spending request, including the need for additional schools. We should be building an elementary school right now, but we’re not. With a lead time of roughly three years from initial funding approval to opening the doors, we will have to purchase several mobile units to expand elementary capacity while we wait for approval to build a school.

Whether I’m re-elected or not, I’ll continue to shout from the rooftops that our county is growing and our school system needs additional capacity to handle that growth. Waiting until our schools are overcrowded to act is simply too late.

Stryffeler: From recent projections there is approximately 16,000 new homes/dwellings that are in progress or soon to be in progress. This rapid growth in our area requires planning in 1 yr, 3 year, 5 year, and more predictions on our infrastructure, zoning, schools and community needs.  Commissioners, Zoning boards, Health Departments, Social community structure, Businesses, Schools and School Board, etc will be impacted by recent historical events in the growth of our city/county and whether adequate forethought to this rapid growth was planned for appropriately. We must take inventory of what is working and what is not working and make corrective actions going forward. The team of people must not function in silos but work across groups to help this community to grow appropriately for its taxpayers.

4) Both private and charter schools have proven popular locally, which has relieved some of the pressure traditional public schools face with regards to capacity. But private school vouchers and charter school funding have been demonstrated to direct tax dollars away from the traditional public school system. Do you believe traditional public schools should come first when it comes to education funding? Why or why not?

Kelly: Traditional public schools have a responsibility that is different from other educational options because they are required to serve every student who walks through their doors, regardless of ability, background, or circumstance. Because of that responsibility, we must ensure our public schools have the funding necessary to provide every student with a quality education.

I am not against school choice. I respect a parent’s right to choose the educational setting they believe is best for their child. However, if public tax dollars are funding those choices, I believe there should be equal funding and equal accountability for how those dollars are spent and for the educational outcomes we expect.

My concern is making sure school choice does not come at the expense of adequately funding traditional public schools. Lee County Schools must maintain facilities, transportation, specialized programs, qualified staff, and services for a diverse student population.

As a school board member, my responsibility would be to advocate for Lee County Schools and ensure our students and employees have the resources they need, uesand expecting accountability wherever public education dollars are spent.

Koballa: I believe parents should have choices when it comes to their children’s education. At the same time, as a school board member, my responsibility is to make our public school so strong that families choose them because of the opportunities, support, and quality they provide. School choice and strong public schools don’t have to be opposing ideas. My focus is on ensuring every student has access to an excellent education, regardless of the path their family chooses.

Rummel: I think private and charter options provide healthy competition that helps ensure the traditional public school system is operating at its best. My concern is that traditional public schools operate under stricter rules than their charter and private counterparts, putting them at a competitive disadvantage.

For example, charter schools have greater spending flexibility and can choose to direct more funding toward salaries for recruitment. They also are not required to have every teacher licensed; state law requires only 50% of their teachers to hold teacher licenses. Traditional school systems also have responsibilities for identifying and providing certain services to eligible students with disabilities attending private schools within the district.

I’m not advocating against school choice. I’m advocating for a level playing field on which to compete. Regarding private-school vouchers, I liken the program to government-backed student loans for college.

When taxpayer money became widely available for higher education, tuition increased dramatically. I’m concerned we’re creating a similar incentive in K-12 private education, where increasing taxpayer subsidies can contribute to increasing tuition rather than simply making existing tuition more affordable.

Stryffeler: It is my belief that parents are the ones to choose where their child(ren) should attend school. With public, charter and private school competition, it behoves the public schools to publicize why parents should select this choice and what the schools are doing to prepare our children for their adult lives. North Carolina has much work to do, as currently we are in the bottom rankings for per pupil funding, 46th in teacher pay and so we have to include our legislators, community boards to continue planning and fighting to improve our schcools for teachers, support staff and our students. Lee County’s rapid growth is creating significant challenges for our infrastructure, and our schools are not the only area feeling the impact. Emergency services, roads, utilities, and other county resources are also being stretched. We have to be proactive about future growth while also being reactive to the challenges that are already here.

I know there are plans underway for new schools and a new bus garage, and those are important steps. But we also have to ask, “What’s next?” Where will the next areas of growth be? Do our current schools have the capacity to handle additional students? What will our staffing, transportation, and facility needs look like five or ten years from now?

The school board needs to work closely with County Commissioners, planning officials, and other county leaders so that school needs are considered as Lee County continues to develop.

We cannot wait until schools are overcrowded or resources are stretched beyond capacity before responding. We need a long-term plan that is regularly reviewed and adjusted as growth occurs, while also addressing the immediate needs that growth has already created.

5) What do you see as the greatest academic challenge currently facing Lee County Schools, and what specific steps should the Board of Education take over the next four years to improve student performance?

Kelly: The greatest academic challenge facing Lee County Schools is ensuring that recent growth translates into sustained, grade-level achievement for every student.

We should be proud of our progress. Lee County Schools went from five low-performing schools to zero, and all 14 graded schools showed improvement in performance, growth, or both. But zero low-performing schools cannot be the finish line. Our next challenge is ensuring more students perform at or above grade level and are prepared for what comes next.

Over the next four years, the Board should strengthen foundations in reading and math by identifying learning gaps early and providing targeted interventions. We must use student data to guide instruction, direct resources, and measure whether strategies are working.

We must also recruit and retain excellent teachers and provide meaningful professional development that supports classroom needs. At the same time, we should expand CTE, college courses, industry credentials, and community partnerships that prepare students for life after graduation.

The Board must set clear academic goals and consistently ask: Are more students proficient? Are achievement gaps closing? Are graduates prepared?

Our schools have momentum. Now we must build on it and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed in Lee County.

Koballa: Our greatest challenge is making sure every child in Lee County has the opportunity and support to reach his or her full potential. There has been some encouraging academic progress, and we need to build on that success.

We should continue focusing on reading and math, early intervention for students who are struggling, and giving teachers the resources they need in the classroom. Using student performance data to identify where additional help is needed and make sure our resources are being used wisely. 

Every child deserves a quality education and the opportunity to graduate from Lee County Schools prepared for college, a career, or military service just like I did.

Rummel: After nearly four years on the Board and seeing the changes we’ve made to make sure academics are the focus, I’d say family engagement is one of our biggest challenges in driving student success. That’s why it’s one of the four main focus areas of our strategic plan. Last year’s results show that the district’s work to use data and direct resources toward student needs is paying off.

But schools cannot do it alone. Families have responsibilities, too: getting children to school ready to learn, reinforcing expectations at home, and taking concerns about their children’s behavior seriously.

Too often, schools are treated as an enemy instead of a partner. When parents automatically dismiss a teacher’s concerns or excuse disruptive behavior, it undermines the classroom and affects every other child trying to learn. Supporting your child includes holding them accountable.

Given another term, I’ll continue to personally advocate for families to be engaged in their children’s education. I’ll support initiatives that help families understand their children’s progress and become more involved. Families should expect schools to do their part, and schools should be able to expect the same from families.

Stryffeler: No response.

6) Recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and other school employees remains a challenge for public school systems. What can the Lee County Board of Education realistically do at the local level to make Lee County Schools a more attractive place to work and to retain the employees it already has?

Kelly: Recruiting and retaining great employees requires more than filling vacancies; it requires creating a school system where people want to stay. While the Board cannot control the state salary schedule, we can control how we support, value, and invest in our employees locally.

The Board should continue evaluating competitive local supplements and compensation for both certified and classified employees while ensuring available resources reach the people working directly with our students. We should also continue the partnership we have with the Lee County Educational Foundation Sloan Scholars program. Retention is equally important. We need to listen to employees about why they stay, why they leave, and what would make their jobs more sustainable. That means supporting strong school leadership, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, providing meaningful professional development and advancement opportunities, and ensuring employees have the resources needed to do their jobs well.

Most importantly, we must recognize that our teachers, instructional assistants, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, support staff, and administrators are the people making a difference for students every day.

If we want excellent schools, we must create an environment where excellent employees feel supported, respected, heard, and valued. Recruiting brings people to Lee County Schools; how we treat and support them determines whether they stay.

Koballa: Our teachers and school employees are incredibly important to the success of our children and we should do everything reasonably possible to support them. The Board cannot control the state’s salary schedule, but we can make decisions locally. The Board has already taken steps to improve employee compensation, including supporting a classified staff compensation plan and proposing additional funding for employee supplements. I would like to see us continue looking for responsible ways to remain competitive, particularly in positions that are difficult to fill. Keeping good employees is about more than salary. People want to feel appreciated and respected. They want good leadership, safe schools, and to know their work makes a difference. We can support beginning teachers by encouraging experienced teachers and staff to mentor to those just starting out. By listening to employees, they can tell us what is working and where improvements are needed.

Rummel: Speaking specifically to the local level, one thing the Board can address without waiting for more funding is student discipline. Pay matters, but so does what people have to deal with every day at work. Staff across the district deal with some wild things, and making sure leadership does two things is key:

1. Give staff, especially teachers, the training and support to have tough conversations with families. When a student is acting out and disrupting the other 20 kids, the family needs to hear that clearly and be part of fixing it.

2. Back staff up when those conversations don’t work. When a parent decides their child’s behavior is acceptable, that doesn’t make it acceptable in a classroom full of other students trying to learn. We need clear policies and administrators willing to enforce them.

If someone is expected to be a punching bag (figuratively or sometimes literally) day in and day out, what else would we expect but for them to leave?

This won’t solve every staffing challenge, but it’s something the Board can take seriously right now. If we want good people to stay, they need to know we’ll support them when things get difficult.

Stryffeler: No response.

7) Student discipline and school safety can affect both the learning environment and the ability of teachers to do their jobs. How would you assess Lee County Schools’ current approach to discipline and safety, and what, if anything, would you change?

Kelly: Lee County Schools has taken important steps to make our schools safe, and I believe we should continue strengthening those efforts. When it comes to discipline, we must have consistency, accountability, and supporting the teachers and staff who manage student behavior every day.

Students need clear expectations and consequences, and those expectations should be applied consistently across our schools. At the same time, discipline cannot simply be about removing a student from the classroom. We need to understand the cause of repeated behavior, involve parents early.

I would also make teacher input a priority. When disruptive behavior repeatedly takes time away from instruction, we need to listen to the employees experiencing it and ensure administrators have the resources and support to respond effectively.

We should continually evaluate security procedures, communication, emergency preparedness, and partnerships with law enforcement while also investing in counselors, social workers, and mental-health supports.

Every student deserves a safe environment in which to learn, and every employee deserves a safe environment in which to work. Discipline and safety policies should protect both while keeping learning at the center.

Koballa: I think safety in Lee County Schools is very important. The schools already have secured entrances, safety drills, anonymous reporting, and additional security measures at our high schools. Parents should be involved whenever appropriate and students should understand that their choices have consequences. At the same time, every child is different, and some students need additional academic, behavioral, or emotional support.

I would like the Board to continue receiving information about discipline and safety so we can understand where additional resources may be needed.

Rummel: This is a good question considering my last answer talked about student behavior. I think the current approach is “better than many” in that the district has high expectations and does its best to enforce those expectations within existing laws. The problem is, the laws allow for abuse from students toward both other students and staff.

The Board created a Discipline Committee to begin serious discussions about this very topic. I’ve not been able to attend this committee personally, but I have been discussing a possible transition that would allow me to focus on this area.

Stryffeler: No response.

8) The Board of Education sets policy and oversees the superintendent, while the superintendent and staff are responsible for the school system’s day-to-day operations. How do you define the proper role of a school board member, and how should the board hold the superintendent and administration accountable without becoming involved in day-to-day management?  

Kelly: I believe the role of a school board member is to govern, not manage. The Board should establish policy, set priorities, approve and oversee the budget, and ensure that the district remains focused on student achievement. The superintendent and administration are responsible for determining how those priorities are carried out through the day-to-day operation of our schools.

Accountability begins with clear expectations. The Board should establish measurable goals for student performance, finances, employee recruitment and retention, discipline, and other district priorities. We should receive regular updates, ask meaningful questions, evaluate results, and hold the superintendent accountable when goals are not being met.

At the same time, individual board members should not direct employees or attempt to manage individual schools. We should listen to parents, employees, students, and community members, but concerns should be addressed through the appropriate chain of command.

A strong Board-superintendent relationship requires communication, transparency, trust, and accountability. The Board determines what we expect our school system to accomplish and provides appropriate oversight. The superintendent and staff determine how to accomplish it. When everyone understands and respects those roles, the focus can remain where it belongs: providing the best possible education for our students.

Koballa: A school board member’s first responsibility is to the students and families we serve. Our job is to listen to the community, establish policy, approve the budget set priorities, and work with the superintendent to move the school system forward. The superintendent and staff are responsible for the day-to-day operation of our schools. Board members should respect that responsibility and not try to manage individual schools or employees. The Board must also make sure the goals we establish are being met. That means reviewing academic and financial information, asking questions, listening to recommendations, and evaluating the superintendent’s performance based on clear expectations.

The best school boards and superintendents work together while understanding that they have different responsibilities. We may not always agree, but we should always treat one another with respect and keep the children of Lee County at the center of our decisions.

Rummel: I love how this question defines the roles of the Board and superintendent. The Board sets direction, and the superintendent manages day-to-day operations to carry out that direction.

A big part of accountability is having both groups understand and respect those roles, and we do currently. When that happens, accountability is clearer because the strategic plan sets goals the superintendent is responsible for delivering on.

If the goals are not met, the Board and superintendent should discuss why and take appropriate action. That doesn’t necessarily mean disciplinary action. It could mean providing an additional resource or supporting changes the superintendent needs to make in order to be successful. Either way, there needs to be follow-through to see whether those changes are working.

Stryffeler: No response.