The long delays in the state budget process are hurting teacher retention in rural districts like Halifax County, and it’s just one of the many funding challenges these districts are facing amid uncertain funding.

To better understand how the funding challenges are playing out in rural schools, WUNC News' Colin Campbell took a trip to Halifax County – about 80 miles northeast of Raleigh and seemingly a world away economically. Halifax County Schools Superintendent Eric Cunningham explained how the state budget affects its schools, its teacher retention and its ability to afford new school buildings and programs.