Gov. Beverly Perdue announces a new chief executive officer for the N.C. public schools. Bill Harrison, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, will take the newly created post. He’ll also serve as chairman of the State Board of Education. Current board chairman Howard Lee will become the executive director of the N.C. Education Cabinet, while Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson will remain outside the chain of command. Atkinson has agreed to chair a new blue ribbon task force on workforce issues. Perdue announced these changes during a Jan. 26, 2009, news conference.
Jon Hardister to resign effective April 8
Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, announced Thursday that he will resign his position in the North Carolina House, telling Carolina Journal that he would not rule out a return to public service at some point in the future, but for now he will be working in the private sector.