By a 66-52 vote, the state House of Representatives approved the compromise state budget on second reading.
Rumors of some dissent in the majority House Republican Caucus appeared true as 10 GOP representatives broke from their party to vote no with the Democrats.
Rep. John Bell, R-Wayne, said before debate began wasn’t sure which way he’d vote on the budget.
“I have some concerns with the budget,” Bell said. “I have concerns, not just with the education portion, but throughout the budget. But there are a number of things in the budget that are very good for District 10 and Eastern North Carolina, and I applaud my colleagues for getting this thing done.”
Bell said he was talking to as many constituents, educators and business leaders he could before the vote. He ended up voting for the budget.
Rep. George Graham, D-Lenoir, couldn’t be reached for comment before the budget went to the floor Tuesday.
The budget will head to the Senate after what’s expected to be a routine third reading of the bill today.
Sen. Louis Pate, R-Wayne, said he was OK with the vast majority of the education section, but wanted to keep the salary bonus for teachers who obtain post-graduate degrees.
“By and large, I think I support them. It’s unfortunate that the parts I do not agree with — the elimination of extra pay for teachers who possess a Master’s degree — I do not agree with that,” Pate said. “I think someone who takes the initiative to do a Master’s degree — in addition to being a classroom teacher — that’s a heavy lift. I think we should honor them for that.”
Sen. Don Davis, D-Greene, placed an importance on concerns about the significant cut in funding for teacher assistants.
“Basically, what we’re doing here is maintaining a recession-level approach,” Davis said. “When the recession hit, there were some painful deductions that had to be taken, and simply what we’re doing is now, we’re going forward with that same approach toward education. And now, we’re talking about tremendous cuts to teacher assistants, with the exception of K-3.”
He added, “That’s where we’re going to see the greatest impact.”
Lenoir County Schools Superintendent Steve Mazingo hoped that after several consecutive years of budget cuts coming out of Raleigh, this time would be different.
Instead, he and other school district administrators across the state will be figuring out again how to do more with less.
One oft-mentioned subject among educators is the 21 percent reduction in funding for teacher assistants — a total drop of $230 million statewide.
“There is a possibility we will lose some teacher assistant positions; at this point, it looks like it will likely be open positions — we will not actually risk actual people who have actual jobs currently,” Mazingo said. “But, it’s too early to say, for sure.”
Greene County Schools Superintendent Patrick Miller said he’d been looking at the preliminary numbers and noted the school district won’t be able to shift enough funds around to make no one is laid off.
“What we’re doing right now, I sat down (Tuesday) afternoon with HR and the finance director, and we’re looking at one line item, the one specifically about teacher assistants,” Miller said. “That seems to be the one that’s most pressing. And, we’re working through what we think a 21 percent cut will look like, based on the information that we have.”
Miller added that after district superintendents meet with State Superintendent June Atkinson on Thursday, he’ll be able to start notifying people of their job status.
“It’s particularly alarming — we have been given another mandate with Read to Achieve, where all third graders will be required to pass a reading exam to be promoted,” Miller said. “And at the same time that we’re having that mandate implemented, we’re losing valuable instructional people who can help us reach that goal.”
In Jones County, Superintendent Michael Bracy said he’s keeping options open until the Thursday meeting.
“I’m still waiting to see what the big pieces would be, in terms of how we’re going to be impacted at the local level,” Bracy said.
He added, “We’re doing all we can, as a priority, that no person will have to lose their position. We’re trying to make sure our money is there and my staff’s in place.”
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.
Notable education cuts in the state budget, S.B. 402
For FY 2013-14 and FY 2014-15
Teacher Assistants: minus-$220 million recurring, minus-$10 million non-recurring
Education-Based Salary Supplements: minus-$18.7 million