Every state’s board of education should be one of the most important and cherished organizations to the corresponding state’s governing body. It holds the intellectual welfare of the next generation in its hands, and plays a massive role, not just in the state’s future, but in the future of the success of the entire country. If the NC Board of Education functions properly, then many bright-minded and college-ready teenagers should be able to have access to the college of their choice, such as NC State.

The NC General Assembly’s decision to treat the process of confirming nominees to the Board of Education as a non-issue that they can put off until later disappoints me. Gov. Roy Cooper nominated J.B. Buxton, Sandra Byrd and Reginald Kenan for the board back in early May.

It’s now October, and there have been no new developments since then. A spokesperson for Governor Cooper has stated: “Our office has asked repeatedly and the General Assembly has given us no indication that they plan to take up the nominations.”

Furthermore, Kenan is already a standing member of the Board of Education, and Cooper’s nomination is simply a reappointment to ensure that he will remain on the board. If this continued stalling persists by the NCGA, then it is possible that another important spot on the Board of Education will become vacant, and the board will become even less functional.

Now it’s possible that the General Assembly has deemed all three nominees as unfit for serving on the Board of Education. If that is the case, then that is perfectly understandable; after all, it is their job to ensure that they confirm the best-suited individual for the job. But if that is what has happened, then there is no excuse for the hold-up. It’s been five months, and the nomination process is still up in the air. Byrd stated that “I appreciate the governor’s confidence in me, and I am looking forward to serving on this board, but I don’t know when that will be.”

It’s unnerving to think that this is just a political play, which, if it is, is infuriating. Political squabbles are as common as the sun rising in the east, but oftentimes entire groups are marginalized or forgotten about altogether because of gridlock.

The NC Board of Education’s website states that one of its primary goals is to guarantee that “Every student in the NC Public School System graduates from high school prepared for work, further education and citizenship.” With fewer members on the board, its capability to carry out this and other goals might start waning.

The next generation of learners and doers should not have to be held hostage because of these differences amongst government officials. By doing this, the General Assembly is not just hindering people, but it’s creating a danger to society itself. Future creators and innovators are the ones who lead the charge in development in all fields, whether that be social reform, scientific discovery or anything else. The issue of just having one or two empty spots on the Board of Education may seem insignificant to some, but the implications that this can have on the future of certain individuals are massive.

It’s time for people here at NC State to pay more attention to this issue. The next generation of doctors, engineers, writers and other geniuses are up-and-coming, but they may not get the opportunity to even consider NC State if the Board of Education cannot perform its functions properly.

Our university is one of hard workers and big thinkers, and newcomers who fit that description should have an equal chance to join our ranks. I want my university to excel, but if the General Assembly continues its lackadaisical, save-it-for-tomorrow attitude, then the Wolfpack might start facing uncertainties in the near future.