NC Budget Goes to Governor

The following is from the Record and Landmark web site.

The North Carolina General Assembly has approved a $19 billion state budget for the spending year that started a month ago. The Senate and House voted Wednesday to give the budget final legislative approval.

Gov. Beverly Perdue said she would reluctantly sign into law the package that includes higher taxes and reduced services.

The budget leaves up to local school districts — now just weeks away from a new school year — to decide how to handle their share of $225 million in cuts.

The following is from the NCAE Daily Political Briefing.

In the final budget, the General Assembly fully funds class size in grades K-12 and restores teacher assistant funding. However, local school districts can make some discretionary cuts within rules to be established by the State Board of Education in two weeks.

I met with Mr. Brady Johnson today and he said that he has seen some of the budget information. Obviously, he has not had an opportunity to see how it would impact I-SS. I will have more about my meeting with Mr. Johnson in a subsequent post.

NC Budget

The following is taken from today's NCAE Daily Political Briefing.

Despite media reports that a budget deal is done, class size is still being negotiated in the 11th hour by Governor Bev Perdue, Speaker Joe Hackney & Senate Pro Tem Marc Basnight.

On Friday night, the budget deal was done. According to the media, the House and Senate budget writers in Room 612 struck a deal where class size would not be harmed in grades K-12 and teacher assistant positions would be restored. Then came the "but."

Under the agreement, local school districts would be given a "discretionary" cut and returning part of their allocations back to the state. In order to find the money, school systems would be allowed to increase class size in grades 7-12. Governor Perdue was not pleased with this and dispatched her team to open negotiations on this issue. The General Assembly needs the governor's signature on the budget in order to become law.

Governor Perdue's position on protecting classroom learning from cuts is opposed by the NC School Boards Association and the NC Association of School Administrators. In an email message sent to its members today, NCSBA wrote that the "governor is asking the General Assembly to go in the wrong direction."

"Grades 7-12 are critical years for students, just as the early grades are," said NCAE President Sheri Strickland. "Children are at risk of dropping out, they're faced with incredible pressures, and they're going through life changes. They need more teachers in their lives, not less."

Strickland called on members to voice their concerns to the General Assembly directly today. A budget is reportedly being printed this afternoon for distribution to members this evening at 7 p.m.

"NCAE members need to call their representatives and senators today," said Strickland. "If you're in the game, stay in the game until the whistle blows, and if you're not, we need you now. The next two days are critical for student learning and your jobs."

The telephone number for the General Assembly is (919) 733-4111. Tell them to protect class size in all grades, restore teacher assistant positions and protect K-12 public education. The operator will forward you to your Senator and Representative.

I would also like to add that, at tonight's Committee of the Whole meeting Mr. Johnson also asked people to contact their legislators and ask them to finalize the budget so that the school system can also finalize its budget.

Here is a list of the e-mail addresses for the Iredell County Representatives to the General Assembly.

Rep. Julia C. Howard Email: Julia.Howard@ncleg.net

Rep. Darrell G. McCormick Email: Darrell.McCormick@ncleg.net

Rep. Grey Mills Email: Grey.Mills@ncleg.net

Rep. Mitchell S. Setzer Email: Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net

Senator Austin M. Allran Email: Austin.Allran@ncleg.net

Senator James Forrester Email: James.Forrester@ncleg.net

Senator Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr. Email: Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net

Iredell County Representatives

NC General Assembly

Iredell County Representatives

Rep. Julia C. Howard Email: Julia.Howard@ncleg.net

Rep. Darrell G. McCormick Email: Darrell.McCormick@ncleg.net

Rep. Grey Mills Email: Grey.Mills@ncleg.net

Rep. Mitchell S. Setzer Email: Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net

Senator Austin M. Allran Email: Austin.Allran@ncleg.net

Senator James Forrester Email: James.Forrester@ncleg.net

Senator Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr. Email: Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net

Would it be possible for the Governor and General Assembly to consider alternative cuts in education which do not directly affect the daily instruction of the children ofNorth Carolina? There have been many administrative positions created by NCDPI and local school systems whose impact is negligible considering the current education crisis. If we are reversing the strides made in education regarding class size, teacher assistants and other personnel who provide instruction or interventions in classrooms, then let us also do the same with costly administrative positions.

This post was written by Renee Dulin.

NC House Budget

The following was taken from the NC Department of Public Instruction web site.

www.dpi.state.nc.us/newsroom/news/2008-09/20090521-01

NEWS RELEASES 2008-09 :: MAY 21, 2009

STATEMENT FROM STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIRMAN AND CEO BILL HARRISON AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT JUNE ATKINSON ON POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS TO EDUCATION

"It is our hope that the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education's budget draft is only a beginning and that there is much more discussion ahead. It is clear the state faces an extremely difficult economic situation, and that sacrifices will have to be made. The 11 percent budget cuts outlined by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education are severe and would have a significant negative impact on our classrooms and our schools."

Following is a sample of the proposed cuts:

• Reduction of the length of the school year for students by five days in fiscal year 2009-10 and five more days (total of 10) in fiscal year 2010-11. This would reduce instructional days to 175 in 2009-10 and to 170 in 2010-11 (rather than the current 180).
• 6,005 fewer Classroom Teachers (increase class size teacher allotment by two per grade)
• 4,663 fewer Teacher Assistants (base formula on K-2 ADM rather than K-3)
• 354 fewer Instructional Support personnel (counselors, media specialists, social workers)
• 187 fewer Assistant Principals (increase allotment to 1:890 rather than 1:799)
• A 5 percent reduction to Non-instructional Support (clerical and custodians)
• Low Wealth Supplemental Funding – Fund counties at 90 percent and below. This adjustment would eliminate funding 13 school districts from Low Wealth funding. ( Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Gaston, Lincoln, Madison, Mitchell, Onslow, Pender, Perquimans, Union, Warren, Yancey)
• A reduction of $4.5 million to Small County Supplemental Funding
• A 10 percent reduction to More at Four
• Elimination of Learn and Earn Online
• Elimination of application fee payment for teachers seeking certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.
• Elimination of Literacy Coaches
• A non-recurring reduction of $38 million to Textbooks
• Non-recurring reduction to staff development (no funding for two years)
• A 5.38 percent reduction or $6.5 million to Central Office
• An 11 percent reduction in FY 2009-10 and an additional 4 percent (total of 15 percent) reduction in FY 2010-11 to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This would eliminate 52 positions in 2009-10 and 19 more (71 total) in 2010-11.

Thanks to Janey for telling me about this. What will happen to the education of our children if this is passed? Surely there is a better way to balance the NC budget.