Youngblood Nomination Stalls in 3–3 School Board Split

Accusations of a “pre-determined” process and legal concerns leave the District 2 seat unfilled

A sharply divided Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education failed on March 16 to seat Matt Youngblood, deepening a growing controversy over how the District 2 vacancy is being filled.

The 3–3 deadlock came after more than an hour of heated debate, with board members openly questioning whether the Republican Party’s nomination process complied with state law — and whether the outcome had been decided in advance.

GOP Pick Faces Immediate Pushback

Youngblood, a teacher at Statesville Christian School, was nominated by the local Republican executive committee following the resignation of former board member Kevin Angell. 

Youngblood is also a retired Lt. Colonel with the Marines.

Supporters argued the board had little choice but to approve the nomination.

“We are already a month late putting him on the board,” said board member Brian Sloan. “We accepted a previous nomination at the next meeting. The same should be done here.”

Board member Mike Kubiniec and Anita Kurn also backed the appointment, with Kurn calling the selection process “rigorous” and “democratic,” citing multiple candidates, public questioning, and what she described as compliance with North Carolina General Statute 115C-37.1.

Allegations of Bias and Conflict

Opposition to Youngblood’s appointment centered less on the candidate himself and more on how he was chosen.

Acting Chair Dr. Paul Doug Knight said he had “concerns with whether the state law was followed,” pointing to differences between this process and prior appointments.

Board member Randy Hoke went further, suggesting the outcome may have been predetermined.

“I think there was a pre-determined decision before this thing was even made,” Hoke said. “We’ve got people on this dais that are on the executive committee… influencing a vote on that side and then coming here to accept it.”

Hoke also questioned why longtime former board member Charles Kelly — who served District 2 for two decades — was not selected, despite his experience and prior electoral support.

Dispute Over Process Could Head to Court

The debate quickly expanded into a broader dispute over procedure, transparency, and legal interpretation.

Board member Cindy Haynes declined to detail differences between her own 2025 appointment and Youngblood’s nomination, suggesting the matter could end up in court.

“If this goes to court, I need to save that evidence,” she said.

Superintendent Jeff James later acknowledged that legal action may ultimately determine the outcome.

“They will have to prove that the process that they used was legal,” James said.

Vote Ends in Deadlock

When the motion to seat Youngblood was called, the board split evenly.

In favor: Sloan, Kubiniec, Kurn 

Opposed: Knight, Hoke, Haynes

All board members are Republicans.

With no majority, the motion failed — leaving District 2 without representation.

Political Divide Spills Into Governance

The fallout from the failed vote extended beyond the appointment itself.

In protest, members who supported Youngblood declined to back several routine agenda items later in the meeting, including budget matters, transportation requests, and policy updates affecting students and staff.

Knight warned the board was losing focus.

“This will impact the schools and the kids,” he said. “This is letting politics impact education.”

Bigger Picture: A Vacancy Still Unresolved

The District 2 seat became vacant after Kevin Angell resigned following a January altercation with another board member. While the board voted to accept his resignation, the failure to agree on a replacement has prolonged the vacancy.

Under state law, the board must accept a party’s nominee if the selection process meets statutory requirements — a point now at the center of the dispute.

Until that question is resolved, Youngblood’s appointment remains in limbo, and the divide on the board shows no signs of easing.