NC Schools Need Your Help!

If you live, work, or teach in NC Public Schools, we need your help! Write your State Legislators right now to be sure that our voice is heard. Not only does this negatively affect our employees and students, but it affects the general population with detrimental long term effects to our communities.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education discussed their initial Budget proposal. Their Budget reflects the impact of the worsening revenue picture and outlines major reductions toall areas of Education. The spending target for Education is 11.1%below the Continuation Budget level. There will also be additional proposed non-recurring cuts to Education to address the federal recoverystabilization funds (an additional reduction above the 11.1% of $467,570,877). If this version of the Budget were to pass the House,the following reductions would impact public schools. This is not an all inclusive list and more detailed information will be distributed soon.

Impact on School Personnel:
* -6,005 Classroom Teachers (increase class size teacher allotment by 2 per grade)
* - 4,663 Teacher Assistants (base formula on K-2 ADM rather than K-3)
* -354 Instructional Support (counselors, media, social workers)
* -187 Assistant Principals (increase allotment to 1:890 rather than 1:799)
* 5% reduction to Non-instructional Support (clerical andcustodians)
* Categorical Allotment Reductions (impacts personnel; but, noestimate available)
* Eliminate Improving Student Accountability
* 10% reduction to At-Risk Student Services/Alternative Schools
* 5% reduction to Transportation
* A proposal to reduce the school year for students and areduction in teacher pay (all 10 month employees) by 5 days in FY2009-10 and 5 more days (total of 10) in FY 2010-11. This would reduceinstructional days to 175 in FY 2009-10 and 170 in FY 2010-11 (ratherthan 180).

Other Proposed Reductions:
* Low Wealth Supplemental Funding (Fund counties @ 90% andbelow. This adjustment would eliminate funding 13 LEAs (Craven,Cumberland, Davie, Gaston, Lincoln, Madison, Mitchell, Onslow, Pender,Perquimans, Union, Warren, Yancey).
* Small County Supplemental Funding - a reduction of $4.5million.
* A 10% reduction to More @ 4
* Elimination of Learn and Earn On-Line
* Elimination of application fee payment for National Board
* Elimination of Literacy Coaches
* Textbooks (a non-recurring reduction of $38 million)
* Non-recurring reduction to staff development (no funding for2-years)
* Redirect Corporate Capital funds (ADM funds)* Central Office (-5.38% or a reduction of $6.5 million)
* DPI - an 11% reduction in FY 2009-10 and an additional 4%(total of 15%) reduction in FY 2010-11. This would eliminate 52positions in FY 2009-10 and 19 more (71 total) in FY 2010-11

Rick.Glazier@ncleg.net (the man responsible for the proposal!)
Contact Rep. Linda Johnson at Linda.Johnson2@ncleg.net
Contact Rep. Larry Kissell via Web Form

Here are your Cabarrus County officials:
Contact Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Jr. at Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net
Contact Rep. Jeff Barnhart at Jeff.Barnhart@ncleg.net
Contact Governor Beverly Perdue via Web Form.http://nc.nea.capwiz.com/webreturn/?url=http://www.governor.state.nc.us