2014-15 Conference Budget – SB 744 Highlights for K-12 School Personnel • Teachers are provided with a base salary increase averaging approximately 7%. However, as part of this, annual longevity payments for teachers are eliminated and instead built into a portion of the base salary raises teachers will be receiving. • The salary schedule for teachers will be reformed to eliminate yearly step increases. Instead, step increases will be provided every 5 years, with base salary maxed out at $50,000 at 25 years. Click here to see how the new salary schedule compares to the current schedule. • There is no language covering tenure and there are no requirements for school boards to engage in another 25% procedure. • Master’s and advanced degree supplements for teachers are not reinstated for those just now starting the profession. However, teachers currently working towards an advanced degree will still have access to the supplements. • State funding for teacher assistants in grades 2 and 3 is retained. However, $129 million is cut from the allotment. Another $24.8 million is made non-recurring, which means this amount will be cut next year unless lawmakers take action to reauthorize it. Another $113 million in TA funding is moved to the lottery. • Other public school personnel will receive a $500 salary increase. This compares to a $1,000 pay raise that other State employees will be receiving. Legislative leaders have said that school districts can make up the $500 gap through local supplements. However, many school districts may not be able to do this. • Class sizes in grades K-1 and reduced by 1 which will add 359 positions in K and 402 positions in grade 1. Other • The following allotment cuts are made: central office ($2.8 million). At-risk ($9.3 million), and transportation ($4.6 million). • An additional $840,000 is provided for a spring semester expansion of the school voucher program. Applications for spring semester vouchers are to go out no later than October 1, 2014. • Both the voucher ADM reduction and the LEA allotment reduction process for voucher students are eliminated. • A virtual charter school pilot program of 2 statewide K-12 schools is authorized. The language tracks the House budget proposal, which gave these pilots both the LEA’s average State funding (minus two allotments) and local funding of up to $790 per student. • The date for A-F grades to be issued is moved to January 15, 2015 instead of August 1, 2014. • $5 million in non-recurring funding is added to the NC Pre-K program. • State funding for Driver Education will be eliminated effective July 1, 2015. • There are no additional fixes to Read to Achieve.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:15:23 +0000
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