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| Soucek & Jordan |
Without a budget, a million-plus North Carolina public school students are going back to class with school districts still in the dark about staffing and classroom resources.
NC House v. NC Senate v. Gov. McCrory
Gov. Pat McCrory proposed a budget in which only one-third of North Carolina teachers would receive a raise. The extremists in the Senate proposed a budget that would slash 8,500 teaching assistant positions across the state. The Senate budget would end state funding for drivers ed., and it would give no raise to the state’s most veteran teachers. The House's version of the budget would give teachers only a 2% pay raise. (NC teacher pay now ranks 42nd in the nation.)
Imagine That Extremist Republicans Wanted To Slowly Kill Public Education
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools (CMS) told 500 teaching assistants that their jobs could end on Sept. 4th. Nearly 1,000 teachers resigned from CMS in June.
In Raleigh, Wake Co. Public Schools has ended drivers education classes for high school students. Wake is opening school today still in need of 100 teachers.
In Greensboro, Guilford Co. Public Schools cut three work days from teaching assistants to save $390,000.
In Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co. Public Schools are opening the first day of classes still in need of 68 teachers.
In Asheville, Buncombe Co. Public Schools has cut teaching assistant hours from 8 to 7 per day.
In Greenville, Pitt Co. Public Schools has cut 25 teaching assistant positions due to questions about the state budget.
In Raleigh, Wake Co. Public Schools has ended drivers education classes for high school students. Wake is opening school today still in need of 100 teachers.
In Greensboro, Guilford Co. Public Schools cut three work days from teaching assistants to save $390,000.
In Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co. Public Schools are opening the first day of classes still in need of 68 teachers.
In Asheville, Buncombe Co. Public Schools has cut teaching assistant hours from 8 to 7 per day.
In Greenville, Pitt Co. Public Schools has cut 25 teaching assistant positions due to questions about the state budget.
In Watauga County, the local school system had to start charging $65 per student for driver's education, which only covers one-third of the cost and which means the school system has to cut about $130 in other programs for every student that enrolls in driver education.
Meantime, the legislature brags about a $445 million surplus.
We Can Do Better Than This
“School systems across the state are feeling the pain from the negligence of state lawmakers in Raleigh,” said Gerrick Brenner, executive director of ProgressNC. “When one party controls state government, claims a revenue surplus, and still cannot pass a budget in time for the first day of class, it’s clear that our public schools are not a priority for this governor and those leading our legislature.”
"Yes-Men" in Raleigh Need To Be Booted Out
Senator Dan Soucek and Jonathan Jordan ... buh-bye!
I would not be surprised to see a year long continuing resolution. Teacher's assistants are not funded under the current CR. This allows them to 'cut' them without facing the heat. In the short session, they'll say, looks as if everyone got along fine without TAs, so you won't need them next year, either.
ReplyDeleteThe Grinches in the Senate are especially grouchy this year. They don't want to give the House anything.