Cumberland County Schools -

On day 133 of his service as superintendent of Cumberland County Schools (CCS), Dr. Eric C. Bracy outlined a new strategic planning process that will guide CCS' work for the next five years.

During tonight’s meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Education, Dr. Bracy shared that his first months have focused on listening, learning and building relationships across the district. He has visited schools and classrooms, met with students, teachers, principals and staff and engaged community partners including military leaders, faith-based organizations, civic groups and local officials. Hundreds of stakeholders have also responded to the Bracy on Board survey, offering feedback on CCS' strengths, challenges and future priorities.

“The voices of our students, staff, families and community partners are shaping where we go next as a school system,” said Dr. Bracy. “Our goal is to keep student achievement at the center of every decision and position CCS to become the highest performing school system in the state.”

CCS is now using this feedback to develop its 2026–2031 strategic plan, a community-developed, Board-guided roadmap for the district. RTI International, a research institute, is partnering with CCS to support a data-informed process and ensure broad stakeholder input. The plan will set clear goals for student success, align people and resources with those goals and strengthen accountability to CCS students, staff and families.

A cross-functional Steering Committee of internal and external stakeholders will meet throughout the school year to guide the strategic planning process. The committee will help steer the direction of the work, provide feedback on emerging priorities, respond to stakeholder input as the draft plan takes shape and later champion the goals and priorities of the plan once it is adopted.

Strategic planning will continue through the 2025–2026 school year. The district will provide opportunities for students, staff, families and community partners to share their perspectives as the plan develops and will invite feedback from the community before presenting a final 2026–2031 strategic plan to the Board of Education for consideration in June 2026.

For more information about CCS' strategic planning process, including updates and a listing of Steering Committee members, visit https://www.ccs.k12.nc.us/strategicplan.