RALEIGH — Last month, North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper quietly stuffed the state Board of Education seat vacated by former member Todd Chasteen in February.
No press launch was issued by the governor on the time of the appointment of John Blackburn to Chasteen’s Northwest area seat which occurred someday in March.
It was not till media retailers requested in regards to the appointment on April 6 that Cooper’s workplace issued an announcement with an intensive listing of appointments to boards and commissions within the state. Blackburn’s appointment seems about midway down the listing.
“John M. Blackburn of Linville as the 7th Education District Representative. Blackburn was the President and General Manager of Linville Resorts, Inc. He serves as chair of the Linville Foundation and Linville Volunteer Fire Department Trust. Blackburn previously served on the Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees,” reads the transient excerpt from Cooper’s press launch.
As of this report, the web site created by Cooper for transparency in board and fee appointments has not been up to date to replicate Chasteen’s departure or Blackburn’s appointment.
An official from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction mentioned they have been unaware of the appointment till North State Journal reached out to the division to ask about it. Similarly, no point out of Blackburn’s appointment was made finally month’s State Board of Education assembly.
During opening remarks on the April 6 assembly of the state Board of Education, Chairman Eric Davis introduced the board would “soon welcome the addition of our newest board member, John Blackburn, who will join us at our next meeting,” including that Blackburn “may be participating online” at their present assembly.
According to the state Board of Education’s member bio listing, “Mr. Blackburn was appointed in March 2022 to serve the remaining time on a term vacated. He volunteers in a variety of different organizations. Mr. Blackburn enjoys reading, hiking, travel & service to the community. He has received many awards for his service in North Carolina.” The bio states his time period will expire in March 2023.
Blackburn, a registered Democrat from Avery County, at present sits on the Board of Trustees at Appalachian State University with a time period that expires in 2023.
North State Journal broke the story of Chasteen’s departure on Feb. 8 of this 12 months.
Chasteen’s resignation was efficient Feb. 1, and in his resignation letter obtained by North State Journal, he cited the controversial updates to the state’s Social Studies Standards which have been handed within the early 2021 and a “trajectory away from education and towards activism” by the present board.