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8 <br /> Chair Bedford reviewed the remaining items on the Board's list of priority legislative <br /> issues: <br /> Full Funding of the Leandro Remedial Action Plan — Support equity and racial justice <br /> by fully funding the Leandro Remedial Action Plan, which details additional <br /> comprehensive, targeted education funding over the next eight years, predominantly to <br /> low-wealth and minority communities, in order for the State to come into compliance with <br /> its constitutional obligation to provide every student a sound basic education; <br /> Priority School Issues — Support legislation to address the following issues related to <br /> schools: <br /> a) Provide local school systems with calendar flexibility; <br /> b) Provide full funding for State allotments including Average Daily Membership <br /> (ADM) growth and infrastructure/capital, and support legislation to provide for <br /> an overall increase in funding based on ADM outside of the current formula <br /> system; <br /> c) a periodic accounting process for State per pupil funds so that funds and pro- <br /> rated funds follow students to their respective schools, as opposed to the <br /> current process that only considers State funding allocations based on <br /> students' attendance location on a single day during the school year; <br /> d) Increase salary compensation for teachers and staff at all years of service; <br /> e) Impose class size reductions commensurate with State funding for staffing; <br /> and <br /> f) Maintain full funding for Driver Education; <br /> School Capital Funding — Support legislation to provide needed State capital funding <br /> to support school infrastructure, renovations, and new construction, and support a State <br /> bond referendum to address school capital needs; and <br /> Non-Partisan Redistricting Process for Elections — Support legislation to establish a <br /> process for an independent, non-partisan redistricting process after each United States <br /> Census for the election of representatives from North Carolina to the United States <br /> House of Representatives, the North Carolina House, and the North Carolina Senate. <br /> Chair Bedford asked about the state surplus. <br /> Senator Meyer said last year there was about an $8 billion unappropriated surplus and <br /> about half has been spent. He said most of remainder is in reserve funds. He said there was <br /> about $3 billion left, but it is now up to a $6 billion unappropriated surplus with around $3 billion <br /> expected to be recurring. He said the Senate would likely not agree to raise the state budget by <br /> $3 billion so some of the money will probably go into reserve funds, some into tax cuts or <br /> possibly tax rebates, and some will likely be spent. He said there is a possibility of direct funding <br /> for school construction, rather than bond money. He said there may also be investment in <br /> special education funding. He said he doesn't know what will be decided regarding teacher pay. <br /> Commissioner Richards noted that Leandro v. State of NC is back in court. <br /> Chair Bedford asked about the calendar bill. <br /> Representative Price said there was a general bill that she and Representative Buansi <br /> co-sponsored but only individual local bills are being passed. <br /> Representative Buansi said they will follow up on it this week. <br /> Senator Meyer said the Senate has no plans to hear calendar bills. <br />