Next month's departures of three State Board of Education members will give Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper the ability to fill vacancies without his replacements having to win formal North Carolina General Assembly approval.
Greg Alcorn was the latest this week to announce his resignation, effective after the September board meeting. Chairman Bill Cobey and member Becky Taylor announced similar resignation decisions last week. Alcorn represents the region that includes Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, and Rowan counties.
All three were appointed by then-GOP Gov. Pat McCrory to terms that expire next March 31. Cooper can appoint people to complete the remainder of those terms.
Cooper previously nominated three people for full eight-year terms, but the Republican-controlled legislature voted to reject two of his choices earlier this summer