Dr. Bill Harrison on House Budget Proposal

For immediate release
June 11, 2009

Statement by State Board of Education Chairman and CEO
Dr. Bill Harrison on House Budget Proposal

I appreciate the leaders in North Carolina's House for their continued support for public schools. The economic situation in our state and nation is unprecedented for most of us, and we know that public schools must do their share to help trim the state's budget. Public schools still face significant cuts; nonetheless, the House's willingness to develop a new revenue package will allow us to maintain current efforts in some key areas.

Because of the House of Representatives' proposed revenue package, North Carolina public schools will

* maintain class sizes in kindergarten through third grade;
* save 2,586 teacher positions;
* retain 274 assistant principal positions and 357 instructional support positions; and
* continue low wealth and at-risk funds that help vulnerable schools and students.

My top goal is to protect the classroom - especially in the earliest grades where children build the foundation they need for further learning and success. I urge our state's leaders to support public schools as a top priority and as an investment in North Carolina's future.
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...all at the expense of tax increases? I guess Raleigh doesn't even want to entertain the discussion of a new funding formula for public education. Sad.

E.C. ;)