Featured Editor's Pick Friday Five: Startling school finances, art, plants and herbs, a new bank and more litter Mark Plemmons Apr 11, 2025 Apr 11, 2025 Updated May 17, 2026 0 1 of 2 This shows just a few of the statistics available in the Public Schools Forum of North Carolina’s 2025 School Finances Report. Public Schools Forum of N.C. Mark Plemmons, Independent Tribune Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Mark Plemmons I hope we have good weather this weekend. There’s a lot fun stuff going on, but first, let’s dive into some concerning numbers.k9am}@] `k^9amkAmx?E6C6DE:?8 D49@@= ?F>36CD] !F3=:4 $49@@= u@CF> @7 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 C646?E=J AF3=:D965 7:8FC6D 2?5 C2?<:?8D 7@C 6249 4@F?EJ :? :ED a_ad {@42= $49@@=D u:?2?46 $EF5J] x’> ?@E C62==J DFC6 H92E E@ >2<6 @7 D@>6 @7 E96>[ 3FE :E 5@6D?’E D66> 8@@5] %96 DE2E:DE:4D 4@>6 7C@> E96 a_aa\ab D49@@= J62C]k^AmkAm$@>6 @7 E96 56>@8C2A9:4D 2C6 4=62C=J 4@?46C?:?8] %96 A6C46?E286 @7 64@?@>:42==J 5:D25G2?E2865 DEF56?ED :D cd]ce A6C46?E] %92E ?F>36C :D D9@4<:?8 E@ >6 — ?62C=J @?6 @7 6G6CJ EH@ DEF56?ED :D 5:D25G2?E2865 :? r232CCFD r@F?EJ]k^Am People are also reading… Cabarrus gets first case of cyclosporiasis, officials urge precautions Concord breaks ground on David Phillips Park, new nature-focused destination Atrium’s WakeMed acquisition faces new hurdle after State Health Plan decision Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is AMC Concord Mills adds NC's first ScreenX auditorium Cabarrus Elections Board approves 17-day early voting, four sites Free Charlotte speedway passes for NC leaders went undisclosed. That’s going to change Court rules in Concord Mills mall effort to evict store and collect back rent Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Pastor Doug Lattimore's mission to bring food and hope to every doorstep Atrium Health agrees to $1.8 million settlement in patient data case Fickenscher named GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway; Walter expands external affairs role 2026-27 Davis Theatre Season at the Cabarrus Arts Council unveiled Kannapolis Police officers for honored saving lives, outstanding service kAm%96 2G6C286 52:=J >6>36CD9:A W?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED :? @FC D49@@=DX H2D bh[hd_] %92E >62?D >@C6 E92? `g[`e` DEF56?ED 2C6 5:D25G2?E2865]k^AmkAmx E9@F89E H6 925 2 >@C6 AC@DA6C@FD 4@>>F?:EJ E92? 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E96 >:5H2J 2E E96 r232CCFD pC6?2 2?5 tG6?ED r6?E6C]k^Am The annual Spring Plant & Herb Festival is Saturday, April 12, at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center. kAm%9:D :D @?6 @7 >J 72G@C:E6 6G6?ED 6249 DAC:?8] x =@G6 E@ ECJ E@ 8C@H E@>2E@6D 2?5 @E96C G688:6D] xE’D 62C=J DAC:?8[ 2?5 x 2> DE:== @AE:>:DE:4 E92E x H:== 92G6 2 8@@5 8C@H:?8 D62D@?] xE’D 367@C6 E96 566C >@H 5@H? 6G6CJE9:?8 2E E96 9@FD6]k^Am kAmp 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD 28@[ x 3@F89E D@>6 2DA2C28FD 4C@H?D 7C@> @?6 @7 E96 G6?5@CD] xE 42>6 H:E9 4@>A=6E6 :?DECF4E:@?D @? 9@H E@ 8C@H E96>] p=C625J E9:D DAC:?8 x 92G6 4FE 7:G6 @C D:I 8@@5 DA62CD]k^Am kAmx’G6 366? 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H:== 36 7C@> `` 2]>] E@ c A]>]k^AmkAmp=@?8 H:E9 A=6?EJ @7 2CE[ E96C6 H:== 36 7@@5 ECF4<D[ >FD:4 2?5 24E:G:E:6D 2E G2C:@FD 5@H?E@H? 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am kAmu:?5 @FE >@C6 23@FE s@H?E@H? r@?4@C5 3J G:D:E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4@?4@C55@H?E@H?]4@>Qm4@?4@C55@H?E@H?]4@>k^2m]k^Amk9am}@] ck^9am kAm%96 $AC:?8 {:EE6C $H66A] r@?4@C5[ E96 }]r] s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? 2?5 @E96C 8C@FAD 24C@DD E96 2C62 2C6 4C2?<:?8 FA 2?E:\=:EE6C 677@CED H:E9 E96 $AC:?8 {:EE6C $H66A]k^AmkAm%9C66 E:>6D 2 J62C[ r@?4@C5 DE277 9:ED E96 DEC66ED E@ A:4< FA =:EE6C — 2?5 :?G:E6D E96 4@>>F?:EJ E@ ;@:?]k^Am Concord employees do clean-ups three times a year. City of Concord kAm%9:D :D 2 8C62E H2J E@ 82E96C FA J@FC 7C:6?5D[ 72>:=J[ 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K2E:@?[ @C 49FC49 8C@FA 2?5 8:G6 324< E@ J@FC 4@>>F?:EJ] %@ ;@:?[ D6?5 E96 4:EJ 2 s| @C 42== f_c\ha_\dbfh] r@?4@C5 H:== 6G6? 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Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mark Plemmons Editor Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Follow Mark Plemmons Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Marvin Caldwell Park opens; the Rogers Lake Road bridge is open in Kannapolis; and more. North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is A Concord mother, writer and speaker shares her experience battling obesity and says North Carolina and insurance companies should treat it li… Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Christmas in July in Concord, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society seeking descendants of Mont Amoena … Robyn Benjamin: Danny the 'server' made an impression Robyn Benjamin recalls a server who made an impression on her recent trip to Chicago. Tom Campbell: Old solutions don't work for problem of teen takeovers Tom Campbell says social media and a different society make the issue of bored teens harder to address. Watch Now: Related Video Democratic leaders respond to President Donald Trump's primetime address US Launches Fresh Strikes As Iran Says Civilian Sites Were Hit US Launches Fresh Strikes As Iran Says Civilian Sites Were Hit Trump reviving election fraud claims to contest midterm results, say Democrats Trump reviving election fraud claims to contest midterm results, say Democrats US media split on airing Trump's speech heavy with unproven claims US media split on airing Trump's speech heavy with unproven claims
Mark Plemmons Editor Author facebook Author linkedin Author twitter Author email Follow Mark Plemmons Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Friday Five: Caldwell Park and Rogers Lake Road bridge open Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Marvin Caldwell Park opens; the Rogers Lake Road bridge is open in Kannapolis; and more.
North Carolina should treat obesity like the chronic disease it is A Concord mother, writer and speaker shares her experience battling obesity and says North Carolina and insurance companies should treat it li…
Friday Five: Merry Christmas - Downtown Concord celebrates Saturday Mark Plemmons' Friday Five includes: Christmas in July in Concord, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society seeking descendants of Mont Amoena …
Robyn Benjamin: Danny the 'server' made an impression Robyn Benjamin recalls a server who made an impression on her recent trip to Chicago.
Tom Campbell: Old solutions don't work for problem of teen takeovers Tom Campbell says social media and a different society make the issue of bored teens harder to address.