Agenda - 04-04-2023; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

8 1 2 Full Funding of the Leandro Remedial Action Plan — Support equity and racial justice 3 by fully funding the Leandro Remedial Action Plan, which details additional 4 comprehensive, targeted education funding over the next eight years, predominantly to 5 low-wealth and minority communities, in order for the State to come into compliance with 6 its constitutional obligation to provide every student a sound basic education; 7 8 Priority School Issues — Support legislation to address the following issues related to 9 schools: 10 a) Provide local school systems with calendar flexibility; 11 b) Provide full funding for State allotments including Average Daily Membership 12 (ADM) growth and infrastructure/capital, and support legislation to provide for 13 an overall increase in funding based on ADM outside of the current formula 14 system; 15 c) a periodic accounting process for State per pupil funds so that funds and pro- 16 rated funds follow students to their respective schools, as opposed to the 17 current process that only considers State funding allocations based on 18 students' attendance location on a single day during the school year; 19 d) Increase salary compensation for teachers and staff at all years of service; 20 e) Impose class size reductions commensurate with State funding for staffing; 21 and 22 f) Maintain full funding for Driver Education; 23 24 School Capital Funding — Support legislation to provide needed State capital funding to 25 support school infrastructure, renovations, and new construction, and support a State 26 bond referendum to address school capital needs; and 27 28 Non-Partisan Redistricting Process for Elections — Support legislation to establish a 29 process for an independent, non-partisan redistricting process after each United States 30 Census for the election of representatives from North Carolina to the United States 31 House of Representatives, the North Carolina House, and the North Carolina Senate. 32 33 Chair Bedford asked about the state surplus. 34 Senator Meyer said last year there was about an $8 billion unappropriated surplus and 35 about half has been spent. He said most of remainder is in reserve funds. He said there was 36 about $3 billion left, but it is now up to a $6 billion unappropriated surplus with around $3 billion 37 expected to be recurring. He said the Senate would likely not agree to raise the state budget by 38 $3 billion so some of the money will probably go into reserve funds, some into tax cuts or 39 possibly tax rebates, and some will likely be spent. He said there is a possibility of direct funding 40 for school construction, rather than bond money. He said there may also be investment in 41 special education funding. He said he doesn't know what will be decided regarding teacher pay. 42 Commissioner Richards noted that Leandro v. State of NC is back in court. 43 Chair Bedford asked about the calendar bill. 44 Representative Price said there was a general bill that she and Representative Buansi 45 co-sponsored but only individual local bills are being passed. 46 Representative Buansi said they will follow up on it this week. 47 Senator Meyer said the Senate has no plans to hear calendar bills. 48 Chair Bedford said Commissioner Hamilton and Vice-Chair McKee are on a Schools 49 Capital Needs Work Group and expressed the need for funding. She said the Board continues 50 to hope there might be a state bond for school facilities for all counties.