Melissa Mason NHCS BOE

03/04/2026

While tonight’s results were not what I hoped for, I respect the will of the voters.
When I ran for the school board, I made clear promises to this community — and I kept them. I was instrumental in eliminating DEI programs that divided rather than united. I pushed back against party leadership to replace the previous superintendent which has brought new direction and accountability. I fought to protect girls’ sports. I voted to keep foreign AI companies out of our schools. And as chair, I worked hard to restore order, transparency, and focus to the board.
I am proud of that record. I stood for what I believe is right for our students, families, and community.
To those who supported me, thank you. Your trust and encouragement have meant everything.
I have the remainder of the year left in my term, and I intend to finish strong — continuing to put students first and to serve with the same determination, integrity, and clarity that brought me here.
It has been an honor to serve, and that work is not finished yet. Thank you.

03/03/2026

I voted, have you? If not, make sure you head to the polls and vote to re-elect Melissa Mason!

03/03/2026

https://melissaforeducation.com/melissa-masons-endorsements-strengthen-conservative-school-board-record/

Melissa Mason receives major endorsements for her work expanding career pathways and defending conservative values on the school board.

02/28/2026

Last day of early voting, here until 3pm. If you can’t make it today, you have one more opportunity on primary day at your polling site: Tuesday, March 3rd!

02/27/2026

Grateful to have been part of the ribbon cutting for the new SparkLab! What an amazing opportunity for our students!

02/14/2026

I had the opportunity to participate in a forum the other day in an effort to inform voters where I stand. The first portion of this was republicans only, while the second portion was democrats only. Watch and see where I stand on a variety of issues.

If you would like more information about me, please check out my website: melissaforeducation.com

Early voting has started, so please go vote for Melissa Mason!

https://www.youtube.com/live/_DnQc-HIq_U?si=j_UzOj-RwVGBHo1Zks

The media consortium of WECT, Port City Daily and WHQR host a forum featuring candidates running for the NHC Board of Education.

02/12/2026

Get out and vote! Early voting starts today!

02/11/2026

Early voting for the primary starts tomorrow! If you haven’t registered to vote, you can do it in person. Come on out, say hi, and vote for me, Melissa Mason for NHCS Board of Education!

01/30/2026

Dear NHCS Staff and Families,

After closely monitoring weather conditions and consulting with emergency officials, we carefully evaluated every opportunity to safely keep our schools open for in-person instruction. Based on the most recent briefing, New Hanover County Schools will operate on a remote learning schedule on Monday, February 2, 2026.

This decision was made with a clear focus on safety while maintaining our commitment to student learning and attendance.

We will continue monitoring conditions and will provide an update regarding Tuesday over the weekend.

All athletics and extracurricular activities are canceled starting Saturday, through the weekend, and on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Thank you for your cooperation and support. Stay safe and stay warm.

Sincerely,
Christopher R. Barnes, Ed.D.
Superintendent
New Hanover County Schools

Estimados miembros del personal y familias de NHCS,

Tras monitorear de cerca las condiciones del clima y consultar con los funcionarios de emergencia, evaluamos cuidadosamente todas las oportunidades para mantener nuestras escuelas abiertas de forma segura para la enseñanza en persona. Según el informe más reciente, las Escuelas del Condado de New Hanover operarán en un horario de aprendizaje remoto el lunes 2 de febrero de 2026.

Esta decisión se tomó con un enfoque claro en la seguridad, manteniendo nuestro compromiso con el aprendizaje y la asistencia de los estudiantes.

Continuaremos monitoreando las condiciones y les informaremos sobre el martes durante el fin de semana.

Todas las actividades deportivas y extracurriculares quedan canceladas durante este fin de semana y el lunes 2 de febrero de 2026.

Gracias por su cooperación y apoyo. Manténganse seguros y abrigados.

Atentamente,
Christopher R. Barnes, Ed.D.
Superintendente
Escuelas del Condado de New Hanover

01/28/2026

01/27/2026

REPOST:
STATEMENT FROM THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ****with clarification at the end.
The New Hanover County Board of Education is aware of concerns related to a recent comment made by one of the Board’s attorneys. The language used was inappropriate and does not meet the standards of professionalism and respect that this Board expects from anyone representing or working on behalf of the Board of Education or the district.

Words matter, particularly in public service. As a Board, we are committed to maintaining a culture of respect, personal responsibility, and professionalism. ****While the Board cannot comment on personnel matters or share specific details, we want to assure our community that this issue is being taken seriously and is being addressed accordingly.

The Board does not condone the language that was used. We believe in treating every individual with dignity and respect and in upholding the public’s trust in our school system.

At the same time, we recognize the rights of individuals as private citizens and remain focused on our responsibility to provide a safe, orderly, and respectful environment for students, families, staff, and the broader community.

We appreciate the community’s continued engagement and support as we uphold high standards and remain focused on student success.

-New Hanover County Board of Education

**** For clarity, this is NOT a personnel issue as the Board Attorneys are contracted vendors.