July 17, 2008
Governor Mike Easley just signed into law the NC General Assembly budget for 2008-2009, which includes for state employees a raise of either 2.75% of their salary or $1,100, whichever is higher.

Full-time teacher assistants are eligible to receive the full amount of this increase. Our legislators and DPI have confirmed that according to the North Carolina General Assembly Fiscal Research staff, there is no proration for less than 12 month employment - that is, 9, 10, or 11 month employment. Teacher assistants will be prorated if their work week is less than the hours designated as full time by their local board. Check with the human resources professional in your school system to confirm they will abide by the intent of the States budget.

-Melinda Zarate, NCATA Legislative Chair

June 13, 2008
Friday Morning Update
the desk of Joanne Stevens

The Senate leadership and Chairs of committees worked with the senior appropriation chairs all week on their version of the budget. The rumor in the halls at the beginning of the week was that the Senate was trying to find an extra $60 million and by the end of the week it was down to $20 million. The Senate Chairs plan to work through the weekend in order to have a printed version of the budget for the committees by Monday afternoon. The Senate's version will be seen first in the sub committees and then to the full Finance and appropriation committee, hopefully on Tuesday of next week.

A couple of things are expected in the Senate's budget that are different from the Governor's budget and the House's budget. First the pay increases for state employees and teachers should be more in line with the House's budget. In review the House provided an average 3 percent pay raise for teachers and the greater of 2.75 percent or $1,100 for state employees. Easley's budget had raises for teachers of 7 percent and 1.5% for state employees with a $1000 bonus and 5 extra vacation days. The money for Easley's employees increase would come from taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, the "sin tax".

The second large item to expect in the Senate budget that will be different from the House's budget will be the universities enrollment money of 28 to 34 million dollars. The Senate is expected to provide that money for the university system

Hopefully we will see the Senate's budget and understand where the 21 billion dollars will be allocated with clearer eyes by the middle of next week. The subcommittees will meet on Monday June 16 and the Finance committee and full appropriation committees plans to meet on Tuesday June 17.

-Joanne Stevens

June 10, 2008

House Budget Update 2008-2009

SECTION 26.19 NONCERTIFIED PERSONNEL SALARY The annual salary increase for all permanent full-time Central Office personnel shall be the greater of one thousand on hundred dollars ($1,100) or two and seventy-five hundredths percent (2.75%) beginning July 1, 2008. Local board shall increase the rates for employees who were employed for all or part of fiscal year 2007-2008 and who continue their employment for fiscal year 2008-2009. Part-time employees shall receive a pro rata share based on the number of hours worked.  

 

On Monday (June 2), the House began their work by reading in HB 2436 Modify Appropriations Act of 2007 and then referring it to House Finance to include the fees and taxes proposed by the House. The salary highlights in the budget include: Teachers receive an average increase of 3% (step plus $470.00), School Administrators an average increase of 2.69% (step plus flat increase), Public School employees-Non Certified will receive an annual increase of $1,100 or 2.75%, whichever is greater. Certified personnel (school administrators) at the top of the salary schedule will receive a one-time bonus equal to 2.0% and teachers 1.8%.  Another change to education was made at the last minute, by providing State paid teachers (only) one personal leave day without requiring the substitute pay deduction ($50.00). An additional $5 million dollars was added to cover the funds in the budget for this provision.  

On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee began meeting at 11:00 AM to review the proposed budget with committee members and to take amendments. They had more than 79 amendments (44 passed 8 failed and the remaining were withdrawn or ruled ineligible).  

 

On Wednesday, the House had the budget bill on the floor for second reading. They spent hours reviewing the entire budget and then began taking floor amendments. The House worked until 6:00 PM at which time they passed the bill on second reading.  The third reading was on Thursday morning and the House bill passed Senate Education Subcommittee on Appropriations met Wednesday afternoon to give members an opportunity to talk about their appropriations bills with the committee. At this point the Education Chairs will begin to meet behind closed doors to try and develop recommendations to make to the Senate Appropriations Chairs for the education funding in the budget. One major change that will occur in the Senate education budget will be a major increase in funding for the universities, which the House did not do. It is very likely there will be substantial differences in the House and Senate education budget, which will then require some serious compromises. The Senate still plans to work on their version of the budget over the weekend and through next week, then approve it and send it back to the House in the next two weeks.

LEGISLATIVE NEWSLETTER

April 21, 2008

NCATA Speaks to the Education Oversight Committee

The NCATA Legislative Chair appeared before the Education Oversight Committee of the North Carolina General Assembly on Tuesday, April 8 to speak concerning the inequities that resulted from the 54 to 56 pay increase. Judy Barnes, 1st Vice President, and Joanne Stevens, Legislative Affairs Specialist, were in attendance.

To NCATA Members

From Legislative Chair Melinda Zarate:

The Education Oversight Committee gave NCATA ten minutes to speak to committee members on April 8th. After thanking them for their support of last year's pay increase, I used the rest of our time to address the following issues:

• Our deep concern that many teacher assistants with years of experience are now making the same or close to the same as a brand new teacher assistant;
• The ever-increasing instructional responsibilities and educational requirements of teacher assistants; and
• The inconsistency among the LEAs as to how teacher assistant pay is formulated and distributed.

  
  I clearly stated that NCATA is asking for additional funds to help bump up the salaries of those experienced teacher assistants who have worked years and years to help educate North Carolina's children. It was an important day for NCATA - a day our association's members spoke with one voice!

A Note about Salary Schedules

NCAE preceded NCATA at the Education Oversight Committee meeting on April 8th with a presentation concerning the NCAE-sponsored salary schedule bill (House Bill 997) from the last session. Be aware that the salary schedule bill is not up for reconsideration during the short session this year. The Education Oversight Committee cannot vote that bill into law. Last year, House Bill 997 never got past the Appropriations Committee on the House side of the General Assembly. Bills must be heard multiple times and often go through multiple committees in both the House and Senate in order to pass and be sent to the Governor for his signature in order to become law. There have been 9 different salary schedule bills introduced over the past 19 years. None of them have been passed into law.

However, it is important to note that while the Education Oversight Committee cannot vote on a salary schedule bill, it can vote to fund an additional increase for teacher assistants based on last year's increase. We do not know that this will happen but we are at least pursuing an action that the committee can make happen, rather than a bill that is no longer an option during this session.

NCATA will support a salary schedule if and when we believe that it is an attainable goal and the support is there from legislators and the State Board of Education. Right now, we do not have evidence of that support. Rather than push dreams that sound wonderful but have no substance, we have chosen to work towards a goal that we believe will be supported and thus reached! We continue to work towards pushing teacher assistant pay upward with another increase in salary grade.

NCATA is Responsible for 2007's Pay Grade Increase

I want to make one thing absolutely clear: NCATA laid the groundwork and sought the sponsorship for HB 1390 which was written into the 2007 budget as a line item. NCATA, with our lobbyist, Joanne Stevens, approached and gained support from the legislators for this bill. Representative Louis M. Pate, Jr., one of the primary sponsors of our bill, along with other legislators and teacher assistants, are well aware of the crucial role NCATA played in making the pay increase happen. We appreciate greatly the support and confidence of our members and NC legislators as we continue to make great strides for teacher assistants in North Carolina.

A Word about our Governmental Affairs Specialist

Joanne Stevens, NCATA's lobbyist, truly does care about our association, our membership, and teacher assistants in general. We are proud to have her representing us! She is professional, well-liked by her colleagues and legislators in Raleigh, and she knows what we need to do! It just isn't anyone who can do what she does and do it well!

This has been both an interesting and educational year for me as your legislative chair. I have learned so much and now I have been on the front lines of the political process! It was eye-opening. I have learned that everyone is trying to get a bigger piece of the limited resources available and that there are often underlying motives to what is said and done. It is very complicated and time consuming and can be exhausting to keep up with. The political world is a hard one!

That said, I will continue to work hard and do all I can for teacher assistants as your Legislative Chair with the help of the Legislative Committee, the Executive Council, Joanne Stevens, and the members of NCATA!

Sincerely,
Melinda
Melinda Zarate

NCATA Legislative Chair

BACKGROUND on 2007 Legislation

Here are some documents from the NCGA website as evidence of our role in the 54 to 56 increase..

This was NCATA's sponsored legislation during 2007.

Here is the wording of our bill.

This shows how the bill was put into the legislated budget. See item 7.

 

This is the NCAE sponsored bill. It did not come out of committee.

Notice the difference in the numbers of co-sponsors between their bill and our bill!

  NCATA Legislative Committee

The NCATA Legislative Committee works to identify, prioritize and track state legislation and regulations important to teacher assistants, and, when appropriate, recommend policy positions on such legislation and regulations to the NCATA Executive Council. We are dedicated towards reaching our legislative goals, discussing our work and concerns with legislators, and helping them better understand how teacher assistants benefit North Carolina's students.

Our government affairs specialist works in Raleigh with members of the state legislature to ensure that the interests of teacher assistants are well-represented.

You are an important part of this process! NCATA provides a forum where our individual voices can come together to influence policymakers regarding issues that impact teacher assistants. NCATA action alerts give you the information you need to effectively bring your concerns to the attention of your legislators. You have the power to effect change about the issues that matter to you the most!

Remember, while there’s strength in diversity, there’s power in unity. NCATA is here to bring as many diverse voices to our cause as possible, and deliver a unifying message at the same time. We must agree on the important goals and we can achieve success!

If you have legislative questions or concerns, contact your District Legislative Committee member.

Legislative Chair
Melinda Zarate
mzarate AT teacherassistants.org
336-250-4417

District 1
Melody Sawyer
Elizabeth City, NC
252-267-0549

District 2
Diana Hodges
Jacksonville, NC
910-455-8999

District 3
DP Tina Taylor
Henderson, NC
252-438-2912

District 4
Shelby S Hunt
Lumberton, NC
910-739-0084

District 5 Co-chair
Kathy Smith
Franklinville, NC
336-824-2933

District 5 Co-chair
Betsy Zyvith
Clemmons, NC
336-764-4742

District 6
Sandy Borders
Shelby, NC
704-284-0187

District 7
Charlotte Buff
Morganton, NC
828-437-7083

District 8
DP Rhonda Curtis
Asheville, NC
828-665-1687

NCATA Legislative Activity 2007

The leadership and members of NCATA have dedicated a considerable amount of time and effort toward reaching our goals, discussing our work with legislators, and helping them better understanding how teacher assistants benefit North Carolina's students and specific concerns shared by teacher assistants across the state.

• In January 2007, less than a week after the legislature reconvened, NCATA President Judy Brant, along with Legislative Committee Chairs Gail Matthews and Lisa Fisher, and Lobbyist Joanne Stevens met with legislators to discuss teacher assistants' work and salaries.
• NCATA Lobbyist and Legislative Chairs monitored activities in the legislature throughout the session and closely watched those specifically related to teacher assistants.
• Rep. Louis Pate, along with Reps. Jeffus, Younge, and Johnson, introduced House Bill 1390, Pay Teacher Assistants at Salary Grade 56, on behalf of teacher assistants and in response to conversations with NCATA leadership. In addition to the four primary sponsors, 55 members of the NC House of Representatives cosponsored this bill.
• NCATA leadership corresponded with members of the NC House and Senate about teacher assistant salaries and the work that we do with students throughout the session.
• NCATA Legislative Committee sent out several Action Alerts to inform members of legislative concerns, asking them to contact legislators, and providing contact information for legislators.
• Legislators were invited to the 25th Annual NCATA Conference and Banquet in May, where they could meet and talk with teacher assistants from across North Carolina.
• A Legislative Overview workshop was presented at the NCATA Conference to allow members to gain a better understanding of the workings of the North Carolina General Assembly, how an idea becomes a law, how to navigate the NCGA web site, and history of the NC legislature.
• NCATA leadership and members called and/or emailed legislators to thank them for supporting teacher assistants.
• NCATA leadership has corresponded with and spoken to teacher assistants, LEAs, the NC Department of Public Instruction, and legislators regarding the interpretation of the legislation on how teacher assistants are paid, and we will continue to work toward a fair, satisfactory resolution of this issue.

Submitted by Lisa Fisher, Legislative Chair 2006-2007
September 16, 2007