NCAE North Carolina Association of Educators
News Bulletin Sept.
2019
Vol. 50, No. 2
www.ncae.org
State Budget Woes Continue to Loom! Dithering, namecalling, timewasting. For close to three months, the state’s Republican leadership has been engaged in the aforementioned shenanigans in a desperate attempt to hold on to their waning power. The result of it all? They are using a “minibudget” strategy to keep state government functioning, and are trying to pit teachers against support staff, and educators against public employees. “Governor Cooper delivered a compromise budget to Republican leaders in July, which they refuse to negotiate on while simultaneously complaining that the governor is not negotiating with them on a new budget,” said NCAE President Mark Jewell. “Meanwhile, we wait and watch as they pick and choose pieces to pull out in an effort to continue stalling the process!” One of the “mini-budget” bills is House Bill 426, which deals with raises for ESPs and retirees, would give custodians, teaching assistants, bus drivers, and other non-certified local school employees LESS THAN a 1 percent increase in the first year, and does not guarantee a raise in the second year. This is less than what was offered in the conference budget,
and a level that NCAE feels is insufficient and offensive to our members! This bill would also give retirees a pair of .5 percent cost-ofliving supplements over the next two years, both non-recurring. Currently, there is no bill that addresses teacher or school-based administrator pay. We expect to see a separate bill filed when lawmakers return from their hiatus on September 10. Like most educators, NCAE member Jameel Williams, a teacher assistant at Zeb Vance Elementary School in Vance County, feels a sense of uncertainty and is nervous of what the outcome may be. However, he said, “I know we are optimistic that Governor
Cooper will stand his ground in his belief for the state’s public school educators and students.” Before their departure, the Democrats offered 10 amendments on the bill, arguing for an 8 percent raise, better retirement COLA, and raises for non-certified school workers and community college and UNC system employees. However, when Speaker Tim Moore saw the amendments, he withdrew the bill and sent it back to the House Appropriations Committee. At this point, we are not sure what the bill will contain when it reappears, but we will update members when we know more.