Education is one of the most important services of government in North Carolina and all of us agree that providing a good education for our young people is critical for the success of our state.
I have shared an overview with you in the past few weeks of some key accomplishments in education from this past session. This week, I wanted to share a fuller accounting of our education budget, including those areas where we added money and those places where we had to cut back to balance our budget.
If you have any questions or if I can be of service to you, please contact me. Thank you as always for your interest in North Carolina and state government.
Public Schools
Prevented layoffs of any instructional personnel in K-12 by adjusting the lottery receipts budgeted for classroom teachers. Also redirected $16.8 million from the Lottery Reserve and $19.3 million in projected over realized revenues – $126 million.
Restored proposed cuts for assistant principals – $4.5 million.
Provided on a nonrecurring basis for the purchase of replacement textbooks for emergency situations. The State Board of Education shall develop rules and guidelines for the allocation of these funds – $5 million.
Reduced the annual appropriation for the North Carolina Window on Student Education (NC WISE), as this project is deployed and is in operations and maintenance phase. Also there is a nonrecurring reduction of the cash balance – ($12 million).
Eliminated 26 positions in order to find efficiencies and reduce redundancy in the Department of Public Instruction Technology Services area. The reduction included departmental NC WISE positions, Offices of the Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Technology Business Services, and Project Management. NC WISE has been deployed, reducing the need for personnel – ($2.8 million).
There was also significant legislation passed to reform low-performing schools (SB 704); improve the graduation rate (HB 1877) and to identify and assist at-risk students earlier (HB 1875).
Community Colleges
Fully funded enrollment growth to help pay for the 16 percent increase (34,118 students) in enrollment – $85 million.
Provided funds for the purchase of instructional equipment and technology at all 58 colleges. These funds are in addition to the $43.3 million included in the base budget for this purpose. Funds shall be distributed in accordance with the existing equipment formula – $4 million.
Restored the reduction made to the Small Business Center allotment in 2009. This funding was added to each college’s base allocation. With this restoration, the total funding available for this program will be $5.75 million – $402,861.
Provided funds to assist Minority Male Mentoring programs at community colleges. These funds will be distributed through a competitive application process – $900,000.
Reduced funds, bringing the total management flexibility reduction for this fiscal year to $36 million. The State Board of Community Colleges shall distribute the flexibility reduction, accounting for the unique needs of each college. Each college shall have the flexibility to adjust its budget to implement this reduction, but shall not impact those activities directly involved in retraining displaced workers – ($22.75 million).
UNC System
Mandated a management flexibility reduction for the UNC operating budget with a priority on non-teaching related budget cuts. This reduction is in addition to the $100 million management flexibility reduction already authorized – ($139 million).
Abolished 47 positions in the UNC system that had been vacant two years or longer – ($2.5 million).
Repealed the in-state tuition break for out-of-state student athletes – ($9.4 million).
Increased the UNC system enrollment growth funding to the $53 million – $5.6 million.
Repealed legislative tuition rates and restored the associated appropriation reduction – $34.8 million.
Increased UNC need-based financial aid – $12 million.
Increased funding to the Legislative Tuition Grant and the State Contractual Scholarship Fund for a 2.9 percent growth in enrollment in FY 2010-11 – $4.6 million.
Notes
The North Carolina General Assembly has developed a $13 million grant program to target students at risk of dropping out of school. Grants are for a maximum of $175,000 and are given to innovative programs and initiatives that demonstrate the potential to be developed into effective, sustainable, and replicable dropout prevention and re-entry programs in middle schools and high schools. The deadline for the latest cycle of grants is Aug. 31. For more information, visit here.
Meetings/Events
I plan to attend the following meetings/events:
1st Annual Mentor Luncheon, Halifax Community College, Weldon-August 23
Northampton County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Jackson-August 23
Dedication/Open House, Renovated Tax Offices, Warrenton-August 25
Coastal Plains Chapter NC Association of CPAs, Greenville-August 25
Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 4th Annual State of Community Luncheon, Roanoke Rapids-August 26
Business After Hours, Canal Museum, Roanoke Rapids-August 26
Gaston Co-Ops Appreciation Dinner, Co-Op Grounds-August 26
Golden LEAF Foundation’s Check Presentation, Vance County, Henderson-August 27
Roanoke Electric’s Annual Meeting, Ahoskie-August 28
Please invite me to attend your county, city, community or civic, etc. meetings or events.
As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.