The North Carolina House of Representatives on Thursday adopted four significant amendments to SB 897, the 2010-2011 budget bill. These amendments, offered by Republican legislators, will eliminate unnecessary end-of-grade tests and provide funding to teachers for classroom supplies, prohibit the paying of “golden parachutes” to state employees who are terminated or leave their jobs; forbid the practice of allowing in-state tuition for out of state students, and allow funds from the NC Lottery to be distributed equally to charter and traditional public schools.
Rep. Bryan Holloway (R-Stokes), a former high school teacher, offered the amendment to eliminate EOG tests in U.S. history, civics, economics and physical science. These are not required by No Child Left Behind. The $2 million currently spent to administer these tests would be used to provide classroom supplies that had been reduced in previous state budgets. In many cases teachers have been forced to purchase these supplies with their own money.
“The House correctly decided to eliminate ineffective tests that do not measure student accountability. This amendment will use this money in the classroom to truly benefit children,” said Rep. Holloway. “This is a large step in moving toward the much needed reforms our state needs in education.”
Rep. George Cleveland (R-Onslow) successfully sponsored an amendment to require Morehead – Cain and Park scholarships for nonresident and foreign students in the UNC system to be paid at out-of-state tuition rates. Currently, these scholarships are allowed to be paid at the in-state tuition rate. Rep. Cleveland’s amendment will save taxpayers $6 million annually. The foundations have ample assets to pay for these students.
“The citizens of North Carolina won today,” said Rep. Cleveland. “No longer will they be subsidizing out of state and foreign students to the tune of $6 million. This money will now fund a proven program, Career Technical Education, which has a graduation rate exceeding 90 percent in our high schools.”
A third amendment, offered by Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke), will limit transition payments or “golden parachutes” for state (mainly university) employees. This amendment will stop the practice of maintaining the salaries of separated state and university employees. This so-called university “standard” was revealed last year in the cases of former NCSU chancellor James Oblinger and Provost Larry Neilsen, and former NC A & T Chancellor Stanley Battle who all received lucrative taxpayer financed deals upon their resignations.
“We cannot support paying public employees for work they are no longer doing,” said Rep. Blackwell. “It is time to stop this irresponsible practice.”
Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake) was also successful in offering an amendment to strike a special provision in the budget bill which would have prevented classroom teacher funds from the NC Lottery to be distributed to charter schools. The effect of this amendment would provide approximately $5.3 million in additional funding to public charter schools.
These Republican supported initiatives, if retained in the legislation by the Senate-House conference committee, will help provide fiscal responsibility to the budget package.
