Document outlines teacher pay raises in budget deal – WRAL

Raleigh, N.C. — One of the most frequently asked questions about the pending state budget deal is how exactly the teacher pay raises would work.

Legislative leaders said Tuesday that teachers would get a raise that amounts to 7 percent on average. The actual percentage varies depending on how long someone has taught.

Representatives of the N.C. Association of Educators call the 7 percent number "inflated" because it counts longevity pay earned by those who have been teaching 10 years or more.

Longer-serving teachers, in particular, worry that they will see more modest pay raises without the current longevity pay scheme. (Source: Read more)

NCAE President Rodney Ellis Will Be Live Via Phone On WNCR-TV 41 With Bronson Williams Moving Forward Thursday May 21, 2014 9:00 PM

Rodney Ellis Live On WNCR-TV 41 via Phone Thursday May 22, 2014 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Please tune in to Moving Forward with Bronson Williams on WNCR -TV 41 Rocky Mount NC with special guest Rodney Ellis NCAE President.

I had the opportunity to be in his presence on this past Sunday in Pitt County and he was awesome! I look forward to listening to him on tomorrow night.

Thank you Bronson for making it happen.

Check out this video: Greenville NC – NCAE President Rodney Ellis Presentation During The Young Democrats Pitt County Meeting Sunday May 18, 2014

Click on the website below to see the channels that you can either watch the show in your areas or you can watch the livestreaming on your electronic device.

http://www.wncrtv41.com/

NCAE endorses Davis, Farmer-Butterfield – Daily Reflector

State Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, and state Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield, D-Wilson, incumbents seeking re-election in their respective races, have been endorsed by the local leaders of the North Carolina Association of Educators, according to separate news releases. (Source: Read more)

Raleigh NC – ‘Horrific’ House Budget Bounced to ‘Big Chairs’

Daily Political Briefing: ‘Horrific’ House Budget Bounced to ‘Big Chairs’

More Info

June 5, 2009

                                             June 5, 2009                                           

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‘Horrific’ House Budget Rolls Out Now Heads to the "Big Chairs" Upstairs

Governor & Senate Already Saying No Before Ink is Dry in House

Chair Mickey Michaux (Durham); Rep. Alma Adams (Greensboro); Rep. Martha Alexander (Charlotte); Rep. Jim Crawford (Oxford); Rep. Phillip Haire (Sylva); Rep. Maggie Jeffus (Greensboro); Rep. Joe Tolson (Edgecombe County); Rep. Doug Yongue (Scotland County).    

The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee rolled out a budget proposal Thursday afternoon that cuts 6,005 certified teachers from classrooms in the 2009-2010 academic year and cuts another 2,568 in 2010-2011.  

All teacher assistant funding ($130.1 million) in grade 3 is eliminated under this plan along with a 5% reduction ($20.1 million) in funding for non-instructional support personnel.   School counselors, social workers and certain other personnel were cut by $19.3 million.  These reduced line-items cuts over 5,000 statewide.  

Decisions on salaries, including longevity, will be made this weekend by the "Big Chairs" in consultation with the Speaker of the House.    

"To look at these cuts on paper is just stunning," said NCAE Government Relations Manager Cecil Banks.  "However, we expected this budget to look exactly like this today.  It will not stand, though.  There’s a big difference between getting a bill through a subcommittee and getting this bill out of the House or even through the Senate."  

Banks is referring to early overtures by leaders in the NC Senate who are sending messages publicly and privately that a balanced approach to constructing a state budget should be taken.

The proposition of a temporary sales tax for education by State Board Chair Bill Harrison was also seen by most political watchers as Governor Perdue testing the waters on a modest tax increase.    Late Thursday afternoon, Governor Perdue described the House budget proposal as "horrific"  and proposed tax increases in a story published by the News & Observer this morning.

"Educators are changing the tone of this budget debate," Banks said.  "So many members of the General Assembly say that they are hearing loud and clear that cuts alone to education will devestate communities and that sensible tax reform is needed." 

Keep the Email & Calls Going, Educators!

joe.hackney@ncleg.net; alma.adams@ncleg.net; martha.alexander@ncleg.net; jim.crawford@ncleg.net; phillip.haire@ncleg.net; maggie.jeffus@ncleg.net; mickey.michaux@ncleg.net;  joe.tolson@ncleg.net; douglas.yongue@ncleg.net

Note:  Rep. Yongue’s address was incorrect in yesterday’s DPB.

If you want to call, the switchboard number is

(919) 733-4111

Remember to be polite & respectful.

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More Bad Ideas in the Subcommittee Budget

Co-Chairs Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland), Marion McLawhorn (D-Pitt) & Ray Rapp (D-Madison) constructed a public schools budget with $1.8 billion less than last year.  Chairman Glazier has been an outspoken advocate for modernizing taxes in order to preserve education in North Carolina.  

At-Risk Student Services cut by $70 million

No ABC Bonuses Allocated This Year

More at Four cut by $10 million (& began the merging process with Smart Start)

Low-Wealth Funding cut by $4.8 million

Small County Supplemental Funding cut by $4.5 million

Teacher Cadet cut by $60,000

Communities in Schools cut by $160,750

Teacher Academy cut by $833,462

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NCAE Contacts Governor About Furlough Fraud by Locals Lawsuit on the Table

Despite an initial ruling by NC Department of Public Instruction to the contrary, many local school systems are reducing educator pay, including supplements, by .05% and using the governor’s furlough order as the reason.  NCAE is working with Governor Perdue’s staff to reverse this fraudulent practice before taking legal action.

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More Photos from Wear Red Wednesday

Pinkston Street School (Vance) & Trask Middle School (New Hanover) 

Western Rockingham Middle School (Rockingham) & Cedar Ridge High School (Orange) 

East Alexander Middle School (Alexander) & Guilford County Association of Educators     

More photos are coming Monday!

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Now More than Ever:  Educator Wednesday Every Wednesday

The fight to save jobs continues.  Please take the time to lobby your legislators in Raleigh on Educator Wednesday.  Sign up with brian.lewis@ncae.orgon one or more of the following dates: 

June 10 ~ June 17 ~ June 24 ~ July 8 ~ July 15 ~ July 22 ~ July 29 

Educator Wednesday Begins at 9:30 a.m.  NCAE reimburses 35 cents for mileage. 

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Photo For Thought

DPB snapped this picture on Thursday upon leaving the Education Appropriatons Committee on Thursday.  With sprinklers in full throttle, it began to rain in Raleigh while gallons of water was wasted on perfectly green grass.                  

Brian Lewis, Lobbyist/Government Relations Specialist

• brian.lewis@ncae.org

North Carolina Association of Educators
700 South Salisbury Street

• Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

(919) 832-3000 or (800) 662-7924 extension 256 or (919) 413-2580 mobile

 

 

Raleigh NC – Voters Reject Cuts to Public Education

Daily Political Briefing: Voters Reject Budget Cuts

More Info

May 27, 2009

                                             May 27, 2009                                          

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Voters Reject Cuts to Public Education

NCAE President Sheri Strickland & Vice President Rodney Ellis (far right) hand-delivered the scientific poll results to Speaker Joe Hackney yesterday and once again reminded the state’s most powerful legislator that parents, educators and students are depending on his leadership through this economic crisis.

85% of North Carolina voters rejected the House’s latest proposal to balance the state’s $4.8 billion budget deficit by eliminating 12,000 teaching positions, according to a poll released by NCAE today.   

According to the poll, over 60% of voters opted for a balanced budget that modernizes and strengthens the state’s outdated tax system in order to pay for education services instead of current proposals in the legislature that gut public education.  These increased taxes include tobacco, alcohol, out-of-state corporations and those making in the top 1% of all earners. 

"In all the talk of lost revenue, elected leaders need to take notice that voters support increased taxes in certain areas to balance the budget rather than eliminating teachers, overcrowding classes and destroying a child’s right to a sound, basic education," said Strickland.

Strickland pointed out that the poll showed 71% rated their local public schools as excellent and good while 80% of respondents rated the quality of teachers in their public schools positively.   

"We’re certainly not surprised that North Carolinians understand how important public schools are to the future of our state and that and that elected leaders should look elsewhere to reduce spending and raise revenue," Strickland said.  "Our citizens know that money spent on education is an investment in our children, not just an expenditure on a balance sheet." 

To read the poll, click here. 

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Did You Wear Red Today?

Educators across the state donned red to show support for public education.  Send your school’s pic to brian.lewis@ncae.org and it’ll get published in the Daily Political Briefing.

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Daily Political Briefing in Sampson County Yesterday

DPB spoke to the Sampson County Association of Educators’ Retirement Dinner yesterday.  Consequently, the DPB was not published yesterday.  Our sincerest apologies for the delay.   

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Now More than Ever:  Educator Wednesday Every Wednesday

The fight to save jobs continues.  Please take the time to lobby your legislators in Raleigh on Educator Wednesday.  Sign up with brian.lewis@ncae.org on one or more of the following dates:

June 3 ~ June 10 ~ June 17 ~ June 24 ~ July 8 ~ July 15 ~ July 22 ~ July 29   Educator

Wednesday Begins at 9:30 a.m.  NCAE reimburses 35 cents for mileage. 

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Brian Lewis, Lobbyist/Government Relations Specialist

• brian.lewis@ncae.org

North Carolina Association of Educators
700 South Salisbury Street

• Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

(919) 832-3000 or (800) 662-7924 extension 256 or (919) 413-2580 mobile

Raleigh NC – House Proposal Axes 12000 Educators, Cancels 5 Days of School

Daily Political Briefing: House Proposal "A Nightmare for North Carolina"

More Info

May 20, 2009

                                             May 20, 2009                                          

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House Proposal Axes 12000 Educators, Cancels 5 Days of School

The House Education Appropriations Committee is releasing a tentative proposal that is unprecedented in its cuts in recent history.

7,000 teachers cut, 5,000 teacher assistants slashed, 2.5% cut from educator salaries and five instructional days lopped off the end of the calendar.  With a tax revenue system that is based almost exclusively on an unpredictable sales tax, an emaciated manufacturing industry and a bygone agricultural economy, the state appropriation chairs were forced to present an education budget with 20% less revenue from a year ago. 

"Educators, parents, students and communities need to brace for something the state has not done for generations if this proposal becomes real:  eliminate thousands of jobs and cut out five days of school from the 180 day calendar," said NCAE Government Relations Manager Cecil Banks.  "I’ve heard people complain that they don’t understand how government affects their lives.  They’re about to find out." 

Under the House plan proposed this afternoon, school will be eliminated the last week of school:  no teachers, no students, no administrators, no buses and no money allocated to pay for those expenses during that week.  That’s a 2.5% cut for educator pay and that’s if they’re fortunate enough to hang on to an educator job.  

Many will be given pink slips under this plan.  7000 teachers overall and another 5000 teacher assistants in the 3rd grade will be out of work.  The teachers will be the victims of increased class size of two students and the teacher assistants will be eliminated altogether.     

"These 12000 educators are people with families who need this income and they live in communities that need their employment," Banks said.  "They teach children who need them in the classroom as well.  Today is a nightmare for North Carolina." 

The nightmare doesn’t end there according to reliable sources at the General Assembly.  Early childhood programs like More at Four will be slashed by 10%.  The popular Teacher Academy program will lose all of its literacy coaches and absorb a 15% across the board cut.  The Teacher Cadet program is cut by $60,000 (or 15%) and nearly every nonprofit contracting with the state has been eliminated completely. 

NCAE Executive Director Scott Anderson sent out a dire warning to NCAE members.  "The storm is here and we need all hands on deck," he said.  "If North Carolinians want an educated citizenry, then fight with NCAE." 

Save Educator Jobs!
Modernize Tax Structure, Invest in Education

(Visit www.capwiz.com/nea/nc if the link doesn’t work.)   

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Job #1 for NCAE:  Save Educator Jobs

NCAE President Sheri Strickland stated today that NCAE will commit every resource to save 12,000 jobs from the chopping block.

NCAE knew it was bad.  The tax revenue stalled at $17 billion and the state’s needs remain at $21 billion.  Now more than ever, citizens need government and the state is dead broke.  

"We can fix this and we can make this state whole again," said NCAE President Sheri Strickland.  "The next six weeks is going to be a fight for the survival of public education and our members.  We can save jobs, we will save jobs and we will lead the way." 

Strickland committed NCAE’s entire organization to saving 12,000 jobs from elimination.  She pointed out that the state’s tax structure ignores many of the new industries that are making huge profits off the paychecks of everyday North Carolinians without paying for roads, education and needed services. 

"We will save these jobs and we will show our budget writers that it can be done with fiscal integrity and fairness," Strickland said.  "We know it’s going to be painful for everyone, including our educators, but to eliminate jobs is compounding an already horrendous situation.  If we’re not already in a depression, we will be." 

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Now More than Ever:  Educator Wednesday Every Wednesday

The fight to save jobs continues.  Please take the time to lobby your legislators in Raleigh on Educator Wednesday.  Sign up with brian.lewis@ncae.orgon one or more of the following dates:

  May 27 ~ June 3 ~ June 10 ~ June 17 ~ June 24 ~ July 8 ~ July 15 ~ July 22 ~ July 29   Educator

Wednesday Begins at 9:30 a.m.  NCAE reimburses 35 cents for mileage. 

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Collective Bargaining Day at the Legislature on May 26

You don’t have a contract, until you have collective bargaining.  Support your right to collectively bargain for a real contract.  For more information, click here.  If you would like to attend the event, email susan.kane@ncae.org.

Brian Lewis, Lobbyist/Government Relations Specialist

• brian.lewis@ncae.org

North Carolina Association of Educators
700 South Salisbury Street

• Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

(919) 832-3000 or (800) 662-7924 extension 256 or (919) 413-2580 mobile

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

Raleigh NC – Furlough Fat First

Daily Political Briefing: Furlough Fat First

More Info

May 4, 2008

                                             May 4, 2009                                          

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Paycut Protest – Save Our Schools on Saturday, May 16 at High Noon

The Paycut Protest begins on Saturday, May 16 on the grounds of NCAE Headquarters in Raleigh.  Food, speeches, and music with a concluding 1 p.m. motorcade circling the North Carolina General Assembly and the Governor’s Mansion. NCAE is creating a special website for the event that will be up in a couple of days.  More to come…

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Trim the Fat Before Trimming Educator Pay

While 185,000 public school employees are being furloughed, Maryland resident Ty Lawson and Pennsylvania resident Wayne Ellington get their out-of-state tuition paid for by North Carolina taxpayers.  Both players just announced they are quitting UNC to enter the NBA draft.  Another $10 million down the drain.

$10 million a Year to Out of State College Athletes
Stop the Giveaway to Athletic Booster Clubs

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Chief Justice Parker Requests Judges Take Pay Cut

Many NCAE members inquired about how high up the furlough order went.  While the NC Constitution bans any cut in pay to sitting judges, Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker sent a memo to her judicial colleages around the state on Friday asking for them to voluntarily participate in the Governor’s furlough program.

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Political Columnist Rob Christensen Sympathizes with Educators -  He’s Furloughed, Too

Rob Christensen is a veteran political reporter, author and authority on all things NC politics.  He’s also written extensively about public schools funding historical funding battles compared to higher education.  He begins his weeklong furlough today from the News & Observer. 

"It’s been a bad week for state employees — from the guy holding the slow/stop sign at highway construction sites, to the woman who teaches Shakespeare at your local college, to the guard manning the prison tower…"  To read the rest of Rob’s column, click here or visit the www.newsobserver.com.  

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Educator Wednesday is Increasingly Important

Email brian.lewis@ncae.org if you can make this week’s Educator Wednesday on May 6.  Legislators need to hear from constituents on the furlough plan, budget decisions and pending legislation.  Be at NCAE headquarters by 9:30!

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Commerce Committee Tuesday:  Restore Local Control on School Calendar
School Start Should Be According to Community Needs

Click www.capwiz.com/nea/nc and find the alert if the button is broken above. 

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State Health Plan:  Read the Fine Print

The State Health Plan annual enrollment for all agencies using the paper enrollment process is currently underway. The annual enrollment kits are now available on the State Health PlanWeb site at www.shpnc.org/hbr_annual-enrollment.html.  To read this entire memo, click here.

The State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees (the "Plan") will conduct an audit of all dependents covered under the Plan during the 2009 benefit year. Dependent coverage is an important part of your benefits package. The Plan wants to ensure that only eligible dependents are provided coverage under your benefits program.  To read this entire memo from the State Health Plan, click here.                      

Brian Lewis, Lobbyist/Government Relations Specialist

• brian.lewis@ncae.org

North Carolina Association of Educators
700 South Salisbury Street

• Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

(919) 832-3000 or (800) 662-7924 extension 256 or (919) 413-2580 mobile

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

Raleigh NC – NCAE Daily Political Briefing

Daily Political Briefing (March 13) More Info

Friday Roundup: College Athletics Madness

March 13, 2009
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Tuition Grants for Out-of-State Athletes Passes Committee

Tyler Hansbrough, who attended high school in Missouri, is a great basketball player. However, NC taxpayers give him and other out-of-state UNC athletes in-state tuition status.

$10 million a Year to Out of State College Athletes
Stop the Giveaway to Athletic Booster Clubs

This past week the House Education Subcommittee on Universities voted to eliminate an expensive subsidy to UNC booster clubs that pay for the athletic scholarships of student/athletes. The program is in its third year and costs North Carolina’s education budget $7 million annually, money that could be spent on K-12 education.

“North Carolina is paying the out-of-state tuition for these students and the program is only in year three right now,” said NCAE Government Relations Manager Cecil Banks. “The taxpayer hasn’t even paid for the seniors yet so next year it will cost the state $10 million. This is an extravagant program when K-12 school budgets around the state are struggling for every penny.”

The bill now moves to the House floor. If it passes, then it will be re-referred to the House Appropriations Committee where it must fight to be included in the budget as a cut.

Please use this link to find your NC Senator and Representative in the General Assembly. Express to them your support of House Bill 83 (Modify Out of State Tuition Exemption).
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NCAE, PTA & Child Advocates Stand Up to Bullies

NCAE’s Sheri Strickland spoke on behalf of legislation filed this past week to protect all children in North Carolina schools from bullies and other harassing behaviors. Click here to see the video footage. Click here to read the School Violence Prevention Act.
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State Health Plan Vote is Monday in Senate

The Senate chamber will be full of activity on Monday night as the State Health Plan is debated and voted on. NCAE is pleased that the SHP will maintain an employer-paid plan, but increases in out-of-pocket costs are proposed in the legislation.

Concerns About the State Health Plan?
Contact Your State Senator This Weekend
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NC’s U.S. Senators Split on Vouchers
Sens. Kay Hagan & Richard Burr split their vote on a failed pro-voucher amendment to the Omnibus Appropriations bill passed this week. Hagan voted with NCAE/NEA’s position, while Burr voted against educators.

Combined with the stimulus package, the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill increases federal spending in North Carolina by 169%. This increase in education includes a greater investment in educating students with special needs and targeting more funds to Title I schools. President Obama is expected to layout his 2010 spending plan in the next month.

You received this message via your affiliation with NCAE. To remove yourself from future mailings, please use this link.
Brian Lewis, Lobbyist/Government Relations Specialist
brian.lewis@ncae.org
North Carolina Association of Educators
700 South Salisbury Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
(919) 832-3000 or (800) 662-7924 extension 256 or (919) 413-2580 mobile

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.