Corey is a senior at Watauga High School, and has been taking cosmetology classes for the last 3 years. She is already interning at a local salon, and plans to go straight into the workforce after graduation. 

"I don't want to see them lose valuable education that they are going to succeed with," said Corey. "This is a lifelong program that I have surrounded myself with. I would like for you really to consider these students, and the repercussions and the decisions that this school is making that could possibly change the career path that they have chosen."

Corey spoke up for her younger peers and their fear of being unable to continue their cosmetology career path. She emphasized the inability of many students to be able to afford a program elsewhere. 

"It's $11,000 to $20,000 for these students to go to a program anywhere else, and some of these students can't afford that," said Corey. 

She urged the board to rethink the decision they have made regarding the changes to the cosmetology program, and to put the intrests of the students above all else.

Spellman is the mother of Cos I student, Jolie Baldwin. She came and spoke at the board meeting for her daughter and her fears around the instability of the cosmetology path.

"I am here for all the young women sitting in the room tonight who trusted this school, committed themselves to this program, and believed that they were building a future here," said Spellman. 

Spellman expressed frustrations with the high school for not truly considering the lives and futures of the cosmetology students. She commented on the gender bias that could be present when looking at the female dominated cosmestology class. 

"When it comes to a pathway that serves many girls, one that is practical, enjoyable, creative, and life changing, suddenly, this is the program being reduced. This is not equity. This is not fairness. And all of these girls know it", said Spellman.

She urged the board to hire a new teacher and consider the lifeline that cosmetology provides to the students of the program, and the success that is brought to those that follow that path.

Norris is the father of 5 kids, one of those being Cos I student, Lila Norris. The first thing he did when he got to the podium was turn it to face the board so that he could speak to them directly. After turning the podium he immediately thanked the board for being leading such a great school system. 

His daughter was one of the students that didn't get selected to move on to Cos II since her name was selected by the computer-based lottery. So, he speaks on her behalf.

"Watauga High School offers the only in-county cosmetology program. So, unlike other programs, our students cannot recieve transportation to the Caldwell Community College Watauga campus to receive equivalent education," said Norris

Norris goes over the funding and budgetting issues that led to this issues, and comments on the fact that 75% of Cos I students won't be able to take Cos II next year. He suggests the solution of finding more money and prioritizing the cosmetology program when thinking about money.

"I'm asking you all to allocate funds to the cosmetology program to allow them to hire an additional instructor that will open up more slots for cosmetology 2 and 3 students," said Norris, "and allow these ladies who desire to go to work immediately upon graduation to complete the program that they began. I think that this is a unique time because it was te funding this year that allowed more students to begin the program."