Joint Legislative Study Committee on School-Based Administrator Pay
The Joint Legislative Study Committee on School-Based Administrator Pay met on November 28. The Committee heard from a number of experts and stakeholders. Presenters included:
- Steve Tozer, Prof in Educational Policy Studies; University of Illinois at Chicago. Click here for presentation materials.
- Andy Baxter, Vice President, Educator Effectiveness; Southern Regional Education Board. Click here for presentation materials.
- Brenda Berg, President and CEO; Best NC. Click here for presentation materials.
- L. “Buddy” Collins, Vice Chair; North Carolina State Board of Education.
- Shirley Prince, Executive Director; North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals Association. Click here for presentation materials.
The panel supported across the board increases in base pay for principals. Committee co-chair, Senator Jerry Tillman (R-Randolph) said the final plan would likely include an increase of at least 5% along with opportunities for bonuses. Sen. Tillman indicated the pay package would be a provision in the 2017-18 State budget. The committee is expected to meet next sometime in December to discuss final recommendations.
Capital Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Commission
The Blue Ribbon Commission to Study the Capital Infrastructure Needs of the State met on November 14 and reviewed a series of draft recommendations to submit to the 2017 General Assembly. The most notable recommendation of the group is Recommendation #3 which reads “Expand training programs for local governments and require performance audits of school boards to ensure that local entities are utilizing existing assets and planning for future expansion in the most efficient manner.” The wording of this recommendation in singling out local school boards for performance audits generated some concern from some commission members who noted that county commissioners are also involved in local school funding. The recommendation will be reworded before coming back before the commission in December. Click here to read the entire set of draft recommendations.
School Funding Formula Study
The General Assembly’s Program Evaluation Division released a study of how K-12 public schools are funded at the State level. The study found that the existing allotment formulas are inefficient and overly complex. It recommends that lawmakers either transition to an entirely new system of funding public schools using a method called a weighted student formula OR take steps to fix problems with the current allotment formulas.
At its next meeting, the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee is expected to discuss recommending legislation to create a study committee that would further examine the idea of replacing current allotment formulas with a per-student model.
Click here to read the entire study.
2016 Election Results
The 2016 election was held on November 8. The General Assembly’s composition will largely remain the same in 2017. There will be 74 Republicans in the House, the same number as 2015-16, with 46 Democrats. In the Senate, Republicans picked up one seat and will have a 35-15 majority. However, the numbers could change as soon as next year as a federal court has ruled that State lawmakers must revise legislative districts by March 15, 2017, and hold new elections for the General Assembly by the end of 2017. This is a follow up to a ruling over the summer finding that several of the current legislative districts were unconstitutionally racially gerrymandered. The ruling to redraw the districts and hold a special election next year has been appealed to the US Supreme Court. Click here to read more about that story.
There were 19 school board members elected to the General Assembly- 14 in the House and 5 in the Senate. Attached find a full list of the school board members elected to the General Assembly.
NCSBA Public Policy Conference
Register now for the fourth NCSBA Public Policy Conference, scheduled for January 12-13, 2017, at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst. Attached is a draft agenda for the conference.
To Register click here. You can make your hotel reservations at the Pinehurst Resort with a special discounted group rate one of two ways:
- Click here and use Group Code 60158.
- Call 844.738.5781 and ask for the NCSBA Public Policy Conference group rate.
*Note that the deadline for getting the discounted Group Rate at the hotel is December 12 at 5:00 PM.
Leanne E. Winner
Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919)747-6686 direct dial
Bruce Mildwurf
Associate Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 606-3916 mobile