School Bond Forum – January 17

House Speaker Tim Moore and state Superintendent Mark Johnson joined several legislators and local officials in Harnett County to discuss the dire need for a statewide school construction bond. Speaker Moore says the total amount will be at least $1.9 billion. He expects the portion for K-12 to be at least $1.5 billion. Moore hopes to see a referendum on the ballot by 2020.

Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education – January 17

The Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education met to discuss the impact that specialized instructional support personnel (SISP) has on student success. There were presentations given on the importance of having a school counselor, nurse, psychologist, and social worker employed at every public school in North Carolina. Cabarrus County school district personnel presented their first-hand findings of how the “whole child” approach (through the implementation of SISP) has positively impacted their school district.

The following link further discusses the role of SISP in public schools, while also comparing North Carolina’s SISP to student ratios to the national recommended ratios.

https://files.nc.gov/governor/SISP_Overview.pdf

Legislative Agenda Issue Briefs

The NCSBA Government Relations staff is writing issue briefs for each topic in the 2019-20 Legislative Agenda. The following issue briefs are now available (click on the titles below):

• K-3 Class Size
• Teacher Pay
• Sales Tax Refund

The following issue briefs were posted in the legislative update from 1/11:

• Vouchers/Education Savings Accounts
• Fiscal Accountability
• School Construction/Capital
• Low-Performing Schools
• School Calendar

School Calendar Flexibility

Thank you to the twenty-two school boards and seven county commissions that have shared with NCSBA their adopted resolutions in support of school calendar flexibility (Burke and Camden approved a joint resolution).

Please email a copy of your board’s calendar flexibility resolution to rbostic@ncsba.org.

Media Attention: The resolutions are putting a spotlight on this important issue. Below are some recent articles on the need for calendar flexibility:

https://www.wral.com/with-winter-whittling-away-at-school-days-school-districts-seek-more-flexible-calendars/18118569/?utm_campaign=webshare&amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3Butm_source=wral

https://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20190115/school-board-makes-case-for-controlling-calendar-looks-at-2019-20-dates

Legislative Public Policy Conference

The NCSBA Legislative Public Policy Conference is scheduled for April 30/May 1 in Raleigh at the NCSBA Building. The agenda is still under development but it will include a legislative panel consisting of legislators that chair an education committee. Since the General Assembly is in session, it will give you an opportunity to see them in action and visit with your legislative delegation.

The early bird registration rate for the conference is $250 through February 28 and the normal registration rate is $325 starting March 1. Click here to register.

Leanne E. Winner
Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919)747-6686

Bruce Mildwurf
Associate Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 747-6692

Richard Bostic
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 747-6677

Rebekah Howard
Governmental Relations Research Specialist
N.C. School Boards Association
(919)747-6688