Cleveland County NCAE October News
Keeping YOU up to date on the Jones Street Gang!
Happy Fall Y'all!
We have included some information about the recent LONGER than long session of the NCGA - which finally adjourned last week- below.
In short, no one really knows when or how the 'bonus' will be given. We do know this, due to cutting of so many of our TAs hours just to keep them employed, some will not qualify for the bonus. That is a horrible shame and just the kind of thing the PUBLIC needs to know.
Our next local meeting will be November 3rd at Hannah's coffee-shop on Marion Street. If you have any concerns, let your school rep know or shoot an email to Chris or Belinda.
In short, no one really knows when or how the 'bonus' will be given. We do know this, due to cutting of so many of our TAs hours just to keep them employed, some will not qualify for the bonus. That is a horrible shame and just the kind of thing the PUBLIC needs to know.
Our next local meeting will be November 3rd at Hannah's coffee-shop on Marion Street. If you have any concerns, let your school rep know or shoot an email to Chris or Belinda.
NEWS
THE LEGISLATIVE REWIND
When the General Assembly adjourned at 4:18 a.m. last Wednesday, it capped the longest legislative session since 2002. This year's session ended 13 weeks past the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The total overtime cost of the session was nearly $3 million.
The nine months included the first A-F letter grades for schools, career status and vouchers in the courts, and a $21.7 billion compromise budget that falls woefully short of keeping pace with our growing public schools and the needs of our students. In the end, NCAE's members made a difference for students by fighting for more resources and protecting public schools from even more harmful damage.
For a month-by-month legislative rewind, visit the Members Only section of the NCAE Web site.
In addition, soon we will have a legislative update brochure on the Members Only section of the Web site for your use- and Cleveland County NCAE will get that out to you!
TEACHER TURNOVER ALARM BELLS
Last week, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released its Annual Report on Teachers Leaving the Profession. The report shows an increase to 14.84 percent in the overall state turnover rate, up from 14.12 percent. It's the highest teacher turnover rate in the last 15 years.
There were 5,681 teachers who cited personal reasons for leaving, up significantly from 5,030 last year. Even more troubling is the number has more than tripled from five years ago when it was 1,539. Also troubling is the 40 percent increase in the number of teachers resigning to teach in another state. This year, 1,028 left North Carolina to teacher elsewhere compared to 734 last year.
State Superintendent June Atkinson hit the nail on the head when she said that the trend won't be reversed until we address the root of why teachers leave the classroom. The biggest root is the failure of the General Assembly to invest in public education and to make student success a priority. North Carolina ranks 46th in per-pupil spending and 42nd in average teacher pay, yet the General Assembly used a nearly $450 million surplus to offer more corporate tax cuts, funneled millions to private school vouchers, and rejected permanent pay raises for more than 60,000 educators. That's not addressing the root-that's cutting down the tree.
WAKE APPROVES SCHOOL EMPLOYEE RAISES
The Wake County School System announced plans this week to give raises this year to all 18,000 school employees. The Wake School Board revised its 2015-16 operating budget Tuesday to implement $16 million in raises for teachers, $1.8 million to raise pay for teachers who do extra duties, and $6 million to give a 3 percent pay raise to support staff. The locally funded pay raises are the result of the Wake County Board of Commissioners providing a record $44.6 million increase in school funding this year.
"NCAE applauds Wake County's elected officials for taking a critical step to invest in public education by approving salary increases for all teachers and other school employees in a push for that county to reach the national average for teacher pay," said NCAE President Rodney Ellis.
"Just down the block on Jones Street, some in the General Assembly have other priorities. Instead of using a nearly $450 million surplus budget to invest in the resources our students need to succeed, state lawmakers used a near record long session to choose cutting taxes for corporations, funneling more money into private school vouchers, and denying more than 60,000 educators a permanent pay raise. The General Assembly's failure to make a dent in North Carolina's national rankings of 46th in per-pupil spending and 42nd in average teacher pay leaves local governments to pick up the pieces. Thankfully, the Wake County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education understand the value of public education on their communities and economy."
When the General Assembly adjourned at 4:18 a.m. last Wednesday, it capped the longest legislative session since 2002. This year's session ended 13 weeks past the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The total overtime cost of the session was nearly $3 million.
The nine months included the first A-F letter grades for schools, career status and vouchers in the courts, and a $21.7 billion compromise budget that falls woefully short of keeping pace with our growing public schools and the needs of our students. In the end, NCAE's members made a difference for students by fighting for more resources and protecting public schools from even more harmful damage.
For a month-by-month legislative rewind, visit the Members Only section of the NCAE Web site.
In addition, soon we will have a legislative update brochure on the Members Only section of the Web site for your use- and Cleveland County NCAE will get that out to you!
TEACHER TURNOVER ALARM BELLS
Last week, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released its Annual Report on Teachers Leaving the Profession. The report shows an increase to 14.84 percent in the overall state turnover rate, up from 14.12 percent. It's the highest teacher turnover rate in the last 15 years.
There were 5,681 teachers who cited personal reasons for leaving, up significantly from 5,030 last year. Even more troubling is the number has more than tripled from five years ago when it was 1,539. Also troubling is the 40 percent increase in the number of teachers resigning to teach in another state. This year, 1,028 left North Carolina to teacher elsewhere compared to 734 last year.
State Superintendent June Atkinson hit the nail on the head when she said that the trend won't be reversed until we address the root of why teachers leave the classroom. The biggest root is the failure of the General Assembly to invest in public education and to make student success a priority. North Carolina ranks 46th in per-pupil spending and 42nd in average teacher pay, yet the General Assembly used a nearly $450 million surplus to offer more corporate tax cuts, funneled millions to private school vouchers, and rejected permanent pay raises for more than 60,000 educators. That's not addressing the root-that's cutting down the tree.
WAKE APPROVES SCHOOL EMPLOYEE RAISES
The Wake County School System announced plans this week to give raises this year to all 18,000 school employees. The Wake School Board revised its 2015-16 operating budget Tuesday to implement $16 million in raises for teachers, $1.8 million to raise pay for teachers who do extra duties, and $6 million to give a 3 percent pay raise to support staff. The locally funded pay raises are the result of the Wake County Board of Commissioners providing a record $44.6 million increase in school funding this year.
"NCAE applauds Wake County's elected officials for taking a critical step to invest in public education by approving salary increases for all teachers and other school employees in a push for that county to reach the national average for teacher pay," said NCAE President Rodney Ellis.
"Just down the block on Jones Street, some in the General Assembly have other priorities. Instead of using a nearly $450 million surplus budget to invest in the resources our students need to succeed, state lawmakers used a near record long session to choose cutting taxes for corporations, funneling more money into private school vouchers, and denying more than 60,000 educators a permanent pay raise. The General Assembly's failure to make a dent in North Carolina's national rankings of 46th in per-pupil spending and 42nd in average teacher pay leaves local governments to pick up the pieces. Thankfully, the Wake County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education understand the value of public education on their communities and economy."
Cleveland County NCAE is YOUR local!
We are affiliated with the North Carolina Association of Educators and the National Education Association
Location: Cleveland County, NC, United States
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