RALEIGH, N.C. — A little more than 12 hours after House and Senate negotiators announced a budget deal, the North Carolina Association of Educators announced plans Monday to try to block key provisions in the $20.6 billion spending plan.
"You are placing a sign on each school's door that says,
'Quality educators need not apply,'" association President Rodney Ellis
wrote in a two-page letter sent to lawmakers criticizing
the budget.
Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, teachers and
public school advocates also expressed disappointment in the budget compromise,
which is expected to be approved by lawmakers on Wednesday and head to Gov. Pat
McCrory.
"For the first time in my career of more than 30 years in
public education, I am truly worried about students in our care," Atkinson
said in a statement. "North Carolina has moved away from its commitment to
quality public schools. I am disappointed for the children in our state who
will have fewer educators and resources in their schools as a result of the
General Assembly’s budget."
Unlike earlier proposals, the budget provides no raises for teachers.
But the NCAE is most upset with the $20 million set aside over the next two
years for "opportunity scholarships" to allow low-income public
school students move to private schools and the elimination of "career
status," or tenure rights, for veteran teachers.
Instead of tenure, school districts could place all teachers on
one-, two- or four-year contracts, depending on their length of service and
performance.
"Hopefully, we get the very best teachers in front of our
classroom, which is what we're trying to do," said Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake,
one of the Senate's top budget writers.
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