LOOKING AT OPTIONS
The Appropriations Committee working on the state education budget now is looking at options to trim $1.4 billion from operations of public schools, community colleges and the university system. These cuts would offset the loss of revenue from the one-cent sales tax that expires June 30. Some of the public school options:
- Increase the student-teacher ratio in grades 1-12 by 2 students, eliminating 6,020 teaching positions; Savings, $332.6 million;
- Fund teacher assistants only for kindergarten, eliminating 13,127 positions; Savings, $390 million.
- Eliminate drop-out prevention grants; Savings, $13.2 million.
- Other options ranging from savings of $12 to $55 million include reductions in school bus replacements, eliminating funds for staff development, reductions in non-instruction support personnel in central offices.
- Note: The committee noted that by funding only one school system per county, the state would save $11 million annually.
- Options for the community colleges and the university system will be scrutinized next week. Over 50 percent of the state’s budget goes for education.
AND THERE ARE PARLIAMENTARY OPTIONS: While the Republican majority in the Senate is enough to override a gubernatorial veto, House Republicans are four votes short of the two-thirds required. The House leadership Thursday found a loophole that could give them the override votes should six Democrats be absent. The rule: Two-thirds of members present. On Thursday, House Speaker Thom Tillis announced a caucus meeting and promised Minority Leader Joe Hackney no votes would be taken on bills after the caucus. Eight Democrats left. The Republicans could have had an override majority, but Tillis did not think that was fair. But the bill to override the Governor’s veto of legislation requiring the Attorney General to file suit against the national healthcare law is back in committee and if four Democrats are absent during any future session, it can be jerked up for consideration.
CHARTER SCHOOLS: Democrats, Republicans, and even top officials in the State Board of Education agree the 100-cap on Charter Schools should be eliminated. But the bill introduced by Sen. Richard Stevens of Wake, former county manager, goes far beyond lifting the cap. It deals with the flow of money and exemptions for subsidized lunches and transportation. The bill passed the Senate, but the version considered by the House Education Committee had changes that clarified the options.
- Money collected for bands, school yearbooks, and other special programs do not have to be shared with charter schools.
- Federal funds for subsidized lunches, transportation funds and the like do follow the student to charter schools, even if they do not offer services.
- The overall management of the Charter Schools program has been removed from the State Board of Education and put under a special Charter Schools Commission. The state board can overrule the commission with a two-thirds vote.
- Only 50 new charter schools can be added each year.
- Local school boards can convert a school in their systems to a charter school.
- Counties can appropriate money for buildings or capital improvements, but this is a local option.
Charter schools can reject any student who is not performing to academic or behavioral standards. Admission to charters is by lottery. Democrat legislators and school administrators from across the state have opposed the bill, saying it drains money from the public school system. Sen. Stevens reminds them charters are part of the public school system.
The bill is expected to be adopted in the House within the next two weeks. Next step: Governor’s desk. Is the veto stamp nearby?
ON SCHEDULE: The GOP agenda for the 2011 session has moved forward without serious opposition from Democrats who still aren’t used to their minority role. Major accomplishments include medical liability reform which caps non-economic damages at $500,000; looser gun control laws; and seashore groins on the coast. A smaller budget will set the tone for the 2012 election season.
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