Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
As many traditional public schools return to class next week, North Carolina Democratic legislative leaders called on colleagues Thursday to support providing more financial resources to recruit and retain educators.
Districts across the state trying to fill thousands of teacher and staff positions would benefit from the General Assembly approving additional pay increases and spending beyond what was agreed to in the state budget law, speakers at a Legislative Building news conference said.
But “it’s about more than just money,” said Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, a Wake County Democrat. “Educators are underpaid, overworked and importantly, under-appreciated.”
Rep. Robert Reives of Chatham County, Blue’s counterpart in the House, said there are several billion dollars in state coffers left unspent that could address a “crisis of resources” in the schools. Both he and Blue said schools also are having trouble filling vacancies because too many people are unfairly “demonizing” public education as well as teachers for curriculum or other hot-button social issues.
Republican legislators in charge of the General Assembly have defended their commitment to public education, pointing to marked increases in K-12 state spending in recent years. Teachers received average pay increases of 4.2% during this fiscal year. GOP lawmakers also have continued to expand taxpayer-funded grants for families to send children to K-12 private and religious schools.
The Democrats’ news conference came as the House and Senate leaders adjourned a week of no-vote floor sessions. The General Assembly is next scheduled to return for potential action on Sept. 20.
Photo via Rep. Robert Reives on Twitter.
Related Stories
‹

North Carolina Senate OKs $500 Million for Private School Vouchers, Student AccountsWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina Senate Republicans pushed legislation through their chamber Thursday to set aside roughly $500 million more for now for programs that provide taxpayer money to help K-12 students attend private schools and eliminate their waiting lists. On a party-line 28-15 vote, the majority-Republican Senate agreed to spend the money. […]

N. Carolina GOP Seeks Big Private School Voucher ExpansionWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON Public money for private school tuition would be available to all of North Carolina’s K-12 students regardless of income under Republican-backed legislation that began advancing in the General Assembly on Wednesday. For nearly all of their history, the private school grants were only available to families who would qualify for […]

NC Judge: No Explanation for Replacement in ‘Leandro’ CaseWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON A retired judge who has managed longstanding litigation on K-12 education spending in North Carolina for years said he’s received no direct explanation why he’s not handling the next portion of the case. Superior Court Judge David Lee has been overseeing the lawsuit called “Leandro” since late 2016. But this […]

‘Leandro’ Fast-tracked to Justices; New Judge Directs ReviewWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina’s justices have agreed to accelerate the process that will likely lead to another landmark ruling over inequities in the public schools and the state’s role in removing them — such as whether courts can order that taxpayer money be spent. The state Supreme Court granted a request backed […]

Summer School, Reading Improvement Bills Pass NC LegislatureWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON The North Carolina General Assembly finalized on Thursday a pair of public education measures designed to get more intensive help to children learning to read and to those who have fallen behind during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before going home for a spring recess, the GOP-controlled House and Senate approved both […]

NC Senate Leader Again Seeks Retooling of Reading ProgramWritten by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina’s most powerful state senator pitched improvements anew Monday to his 2013 signature public school legislation, a measure that was designed to boost reading-proficiency rates among early-grade students but hasn’t met expectations. Senate leader Phil Berger said the latest “Excellent Public Schools Act” bill is more comprehensive than a similarly […]

North Carolina Is Pursuing Its Own Restrictions Amid Trump’s Pushback Against DEIFollowing the lead of several conservative states and the president himself, North Carolina Republican lawmakers have advanced their own bills that target diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

New North Carolina Governor Seeks To Freeze Tax Cuts, Phase Out School Vouchers in BudgetNorth Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein urged Republicans to roll back upcoming income tax rate cuts and private school vouchers.

After Fighting Virus, Storms and Republicans, Departing North Carolina Gov. Cooper Focuses on WinsNorth Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is leaving his job after eight years in which the southern Democrat picked his moments against a Republican-dominated legislature.

Current, Future North Carolina Governors' Challenge of Power-Shifting Law Could Be First of ManyNorth Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect Josh Stein on Thursday challenged the constitutionality of a portion of a law enacted just a day earlier.
›
Look at what this state elects. There will be nothing for the schools, reflecting the choice of the citizens of this beknighted state.