Volume 43, No. 3NCAEN E W S B U L L E T I NN O R T H C A R O L I N A A S S O C I A T I O N O F E D U C A T O R SOctober 2012

Members Were Asked the Question…

How Will You Support Pro-Public Education Candidates?

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NCAE

Message From the President

2 News Bulletin October 2012

!"#$%&'(&!)*(#+,-#./)*(012(%&34%&-#0&53678 In nearly every conversation I’ve heard lately, people have been commenting on the upcoming election saying, “This just may be one of the most important elections of our lifetime.” I

agree with this assessment, and it is why I want to encourage each of you to exercise your right to vote. Remember 2008? Collectively, we as educators rallied together and made a huge difference in the outcome of the election. But, in 2010, more than 20,000 of our members did not vote. In recent years, the face of public education has changed. It has been steered down a path that has led to a call for the end of our due process rights, discussions are taking place of providing merit pay based on President Rodney Ellis

test scores, moves to implement voucher programs are occurring, and payroll deduction has been eliminated. Anti-public education policy-makers are making decisions that impact your work and your community. Too many of them are spinning only the negative aspects of public education and are not sharing the positive things you do on a daily basis. This is why it is critical to know the issues and to support pro-education candidates; those who value the importance of educating ALL of our children and value you as the professionals. If not, vital resources such as funding for exceptional children, Title I or money for low-wealth schools and professional development for educators could be impacted or expunged. Your voice is needed. Your vote can and WILL make a difference in what your job could look like next year, the resources your students may or may not have, and in your community as a whole. In this issue of the News Bulletin, information has been included that will assist you in making an educated decision on who the pro-public education candidates are and where they stand on the issues that affect you. Please review and share with your friends, family and colleagues. Remember, every vote counts! Let’s all exercise the right to vote!

ATTENTION! Important Information About Voting and Voter Registration

Every school site should have a “voter registration checkup” prior to the November 6 General Election. Make sure voter registration forms are available in a designated area of your school for those who need to register, change or update their name, or change their address or political affiliation. Also, be mindful of and share the following:

• Consider Coordinating a School Voter Registration Drive – Students who will be 18 years old by November 6 can register to vote. Conduct a voter registration drive at any high school in your county as part of a social studies class.

• October 12, 2012, is the last day to register to vote in the primary for the November 6 General Election. To obtain the mailing address of your local board of elections to submit a voter registration form, visit the State Board of Elections Web site at www.sboe.state.nc.us.

• One-Stop Absentee Voting or Early Voting allows any registered voter to cast an absentee ballot in person prior to Election Day. It begins on the third Thursday (October 18) prior to Election Day and ends on the last Saturday (November 3) before the election.

• Same Day Registration begins 25 days before the election. Individuals who are not registered to vote can register AND vote at an Early Voting location as part of Same Day Registration.

• October 30 is the last day to request absentee ballots and November 5 is the date they must be received in county board of elections offices. If mailed, returned absentee ballots will still be timely if postmarked on or before Election Day, and if received no later than 5 p.m. on November 9.

• Election Day is November 6! Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

NCAENews Bulletin October 2012 3

NCAE’s Slate of Pro-Education Candidates

The NCAE Government Relations Commission recommends the candidates below for the following races:

President/Vice PresidentBarack Obama/Joe Biden

GovernorWalter Dalton

Lieutenant GovernorLinda Coleman

Superintendent of Public InstructionJune Atkinson

State AuditorBeth Wood

Commissioner of LaborCherie Berry

State TreasurerJanet Cowell

Secretary of StateElaine Marshall

Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler

Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin

NC Supreme Court (Newby seat) Judge Sam J. "Jimmy" Ervin IV

NC Court of AppealsJudge Linda McGee, Judge Wanda Bryant and Judge Cressie Thigpen(all three are recommended in their respective races)

Anne Mobley, District 5Paul Tine, District 6Angela Bryant, District 7Mark Bibbs, District 8Marian McLawhorn, District 9Susi Hamilton, District 18 Larry Bell, District 21Jean Farmer Butterfield, District 24Larry Hall, District 29Paul Luebke, District 30Micky Michaux, District 31Rosa Gill, District 33Deborah Ross, District 34Lori Millberg, District 35Jim Messina, District 41Marvin Lucas, District 42 Rick Glazier, District 44 Eddie Dees, District 45Ken Waddell, District 46Charles Graham, District 47Garland Pierce, District 48

North Carolina House of RepresentativesKeith Karlsson, District 49Deb McManus, District 54Dale Nelson, District 55Alma Adams, District 58Ron Weatherford, District 61Patty Phillips, District 63William Osborne, District 65Ken Goodman, District 66Linda Johnson, Distric 83Hugh Blackwell, District 86Bryan Holloway, District 91Cullie Tarleton, District 93Rodney Moore, District 99Tricia Cotham, District 100 Beverly Earle, District 101Becky Carney, District 102 Kelly Alexander, District 107 Tim Moore, District 111Susan Fisher, District 114Ray Rapp, District 118

North Carolina Senate

Stan White, District 1Clark Jenkins, District 3Ed Jones, District 4 Don Davis, District 5Deb Butler, District 9 Michael Walters, District 13 Dan Blue, District 14Sig Hutchinson, District 15Josh Stein, District 16Erv Portman, District 17

Doug Berger, District 18Floyd McKissick, District 20Gene McLaurin, District 25Myra Slone, District 27Gladys Robinson, District 28Earline Parmon, District 32 Roy Carter, District 45John McDevitt, District 46Martin Nesbitt, District 49 John Snow, District 50

United States Congress

G.K. Butterfield, District 1David Price, District 4Mike McInyre, District 7

Larry Kissell, District 8Hayden Rogers, District 11Mel Watt, District 12

4 NCAE News Bulletin October 2012

The Obama Administration has made education funding its highest domestic priority:

• The FY2013 budget provides the largest percentage increase to education

• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act saved 400,000 educator jobs and the Education Jobs Fund saved an additional 150,000 jobs

• The Administration strongly supports the American Jobs Act, which contains $30 billion in funding for states to hire and rehire educators(Source: WhiteHouse.gov)

As governor of Massachusetts, Romney slashed $2.3 million from special education, and $25 million from school readiness grants, early literacy programs and school meals for low-income students. As a candidate for president, Romney has pledged his support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget, which would cut funding for education and other priorities, such as cutting Title I by $2.7 billion and slashing Head Start access for 100,000 children. (Sources: Gloucester Daily Times, 11/30/06; MA Budget and Policy Center, 3/5/03; The Note, ABC, 3/20/12; Education Week Blog, 3/22/12)

President Obama opposes school vouchers. In 2011, when Congress was pushing to extend the controversial D.C. school voucher program, the president stated that “private school vouchers are not an effective way to improve student achievement.” President Obama also believes that vouchers are not a long-term answer to the education challenges that face public schools. (Sources: Statement of Administration Policy. H.R. 471, OMB, 3/29/11; Politico, 1/26/11)

As a 1994 Senate candidate, Romney pledged to vote for a means-tested school voucher. As a candidate for president, Romney said states should “make sure [they] have school choice.” He would take tax dollars from public schools to fund private for-profit schools at taxpayers’ expense. Romney’s education plan calls for turning Title I and IDEA funding into vouchers, leaving low-income students and students with disabilities to beg for necessary services. (Sources: Boston Globe review of 1994 campaign issues, Glassbooth.org, 3/3/02; Florida Republican Debate, 9/22/11; Mitt Romney Education Plan, 5/23/12)

President Obama “supports a seamless and comprehensive set of services and support for children, from birth through age 5…he will urge states to impose high standards across all publicly funded early learning settings, develop new programs to improve opportunities and outcomes, engage parents in their child’s early learning and development, and improve the early education workforce.” (Source: WhiteHouse.gov)

As governor of Massachusetts, Romney cut early education and pre-K funding, vetoed $10 million for kindergarten expansion, questioned the benefits of early education, and suggested Head Start was a failure. Romney’s education plan ignores early education. (Source: MA Budget and Policy Center, 3/5/03; Mitt Romney Education Plan, 5/23/12)

President Obama believes providing a high-quality public education for all children is critical to our economic future. He emphasizes the “path to the American Dream depend(s) on providing every child with an education that will enable them to succeed in a global economy. I want to take us in a new and better direction…This agenda starts with education…We cannot be satisfied until every child in America – and I mean every child – has the same chances for a good education that we want for our own children.” (Source: WhiteHouse.gov; Weekly Radio Address 5/21/11)

Romney “likes” NCLB because it “reins in national teachers’ unions” and calls for testing children. In his book No Apology, Romney wrote: “Former President George W. Bush was right to champion [NCLB] which requires states to test student progress and to evaluate school performance…Only the federal government had the clout to force testing through the barricade mounted by the national teachers’ unions.” Romney’s plan for school improvement is to bolster school report cards, and transform federal funding into vouchers that support private schools and tutoring providers. (Sources: Fox News, 1/24/08; Union Leader, 10/30/07; Detroit Free Press, 2/16/12; Romney, Mitt. No Apology, 2011, pp. 234-235; Mitt Romney Education Plan, 5/23/12)

President Obama is committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security. He will work to find a bipartisan solution that strengthens Social Security for future generations without putting current retirees or people with disabilities at risk. The president opposes slashing benefits for future generations or subjecting Americans’ retirement income to the whims of the stock market. (Sources: WhiteHouse.gov; Weekly Radio Address, 8/14/10)

Romney would change Social Security as we know it by privatizing it, raising the retirement age, and reducing payments. (Sources: Florida Republican Debate, 10/27/07; Romney, Mitt. No Apology, 2011, pg 173)

Election 2012: Where the Presidential

Candidates Stand on Issues Important to You

President Barack Obama

Former Governor Mitt Romney (MA)

To help you make an informed decision on whom to support in the 2012 elections, NEA has provided a comparison chart based on research of public statements and Web sites of the candidates. To learn more, visit www.EdVotes.org/Election2012.

EDUCATIONFUNDING

VOUCHERS

EARLY CHILDHOODEDUCATION

ESEA/NCLB

SOCIAL SECURITY &RETIREMENT BENEFITS

5News Bulletin October 2012 NCAE

Which Candidate for Governoris Better

for North Carolina’s Schools?

Support or oppose restoring educator salaries and wages lost since the General Assembly froze educator pay in 2009?

SUPPORT. First priority would be restoring teaching jobs the Legislature cut and getting local schools the resources they need. (1)

OPPOSE. Schools need to learn to “do more with less.” (1)

What is your position on SB 795 (Excellent Public Schools Act) that eliminates career status and due process protections for teachers?

OPPOSE. “It’s simply a repackaging of old ideas to try to cover up their debilitating cuts to our classrooms.” (2)

SUPPORT. SB 795 is “an important starting point for education reform.” (2)

Support or oppose the attempt to silence public school employees by eliminating payroll deduction of NCAE dues?

OPPOSE. Dalton will “value education and treat teachers with respect.” (4) “I agree with what they did.” (4)

Support or oppose the use of tax credits, vouchers, and/or any use of public money for private K-12 schools?

OPPOSE. “Privatization would divert funds, decrease accountability, and move us in the wrong direction.” (5)

SUPPORT. They “can play a role for families who feel their child’s educational needs may be better met by a non-public school.” (5)

WALTER DALTON PAT MCCRORY

CHECK THE FACTS(1) NCAE 2012 Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire & WRAL-TV, 1/30/12; (2) NCAE 2012 Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire; (3) Democratic Nomination Acceptance Speech, May 7, 2012; (4) The Associated Press, 2/15/12; (5) NCAE 2012 Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire

NCAE News Bulletin October 20126

Do’s and Don’ts for Members, Local Affiliates for the Upcoming Election

The November election is next month and NCAE has put together some guidelines to follow, both for members as individuals and for local associations. They are being provided for informational purposes only.

✓ NCAE members are free to get involved in the political process in any manner they choose (subject, of course, to the same guidelines and restrictions that apply to all individuals).

✓ Public employees can be politically active on personal time (including the personal time at work, such as break time).

✓ If employees have a private break room, political discussions can voluntarily occur among staff in that area during personal time.

✓ Public employees are free to become involved in political committees, but

they cannot be compelled to be involved.

✓ Public employees, obviously, should never use public resources to assist their involvement in a political activity.

✓ When a public employee becomes active with a political committee, candidate, or ballot issue, the employee should make it very clear that this activity is being performed by them as an informed and interested citizen, not in their official capacity.

✓ Any public employee can send a letter to the editor or write a guest editorial espousing personal opinions on a political issue.

✓ Any public employee is free to attend meetings, social events, etc., with their own representatives to express their own personal opinions on various issues.

✓ NCAE members can describe NCAE/NEA’s position on issues and publicly urge candidates to adopt that position.

✓ Any time NCAE members are engaged in any type of political activity, it should

be made clear that any opinions expressed are personal and that the member is not speaking on behalf of a local association, school district, or any other organization.

✓ A local association should not, as an association, make a contribution of any kind to a candidate, candidate’s committee or bond issue without consulting NCAE in order to comply with all election laws.

✓ Material that might otherwise be classified as “political” may be placed in an association newsletter if it is distributed only to the dues-paying members of the local affiliate.

If you have any questions about what you can do to help elect pro-public education candidates during the upcoming election, ask your UniServ director or call the NCAE Government Relations Department at 1-800-662-7924.

INDIVIDUALSAFFILIATES

...that over the past 30 years NCAE members have elected hundreds of friends of education and educators to local school boards, the state Legislature, Congress, the presidency, and other elected offices? Currently, there are former or retired educators serving as governor and legislators in the General Assembly. Remember...Your Voice and Your Vote Matters!

A Lifetime of Learning

The NEA Academy provides a selection of professional development opportunities as well as master’s degree and graduate certificate programs. By partnering with three universities, members can enhance their education at their own pace at affordable prices. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/VhyU3X.

NCAENews Bulletin October 2012 7

NCAE ServiceAreas Restructured

Listed are the restructured NCAE regional offices and the UniServ directors who staff them:

Northeast Regional Office (Greenville), 1-800-560-5128 – UniServ directors Dorsey Harris and Deborah Harris Ivery serve Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Edenton-Chowan, Edgecombe, Elizabeth-City/Pasquotank, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Perquimans, Pitt, Roanoke Rapids, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Weldon City and Wilson.

Southeast Regional Office (Fayetteville), 1-800-635-9153 – UniServ directors Robert Blackwell and Naomi Chisolm provide service to Arapahoe Charter, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Clinton City, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Hoke, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland and Whiteville City.

Triangle Regional Office (Raleigh), 1-800-650-5034 – This region is being served by UniServ directors Tyrone Melton and Norma Reaves. Their locals are Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Chatham, Durham, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange and Person, Wake and Wake DHHS.

South Central Regional Office (Charlotte), 1-800-635-3387 – UniServ directors Lina Drinkard and Don Lloyd serve

Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Hickory City, Iredell, Kannapolis, Lexington/Thomasville, Lincoln, Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Mooresville City, Newton-Conover, Richmond, Stanly and Union.

Western Regional Office (Gastonia), 1-800-822-9287 or (Asheville), 1-800-635-3371 – UniServ directors Keyth Harrison and Theresa Zeigler provide service to Asheville City, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Gaston College, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey.

Northwestern Regional Office (Winston-Salem), 1-800-635-3386 – This region is being served by UniServ directors Amy Bridges and Colleen Lanier. Their locals are Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Davidson, Davie, Elkin City, Forsyth, Mt. Airy, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin.

Central Regional Office (Greensboro), 1-800-635-9148 – UniServ directors Frederick Pruitt and Ray Riffe serve Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham counties.

NCAE Advocacy Center (Raleigh) -- 1-855-275-6223, www.askncae.org

! Carrie Bumgardner, staff attorney! Michael Chaudhuri, staff attorney! Jessica Holmes, staff attorney! Marie Evans, advocacy specialist

N C A E N e w s B u l l e t i n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2

Post Office Box 27347Raleigh, NC 27611-7347

Positions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAE unless so identified. The NCAE News Bulletin, a journal of the Association, is published by the North Carolina Association of Educators, 700 S.Salisbury St., Post Office Box Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611, 1-800-662-7924. Linda Powell-JonesEditor/Designer

Follow NCAE events and activities on:

www.ncae.org

Ending Bullying Begins With You!

!!!We hear time and time again about the horrors of bullying. Every day, thousands of school children are subjected to name-calling or physical confrontation at the hands of their peers. During October, National Bullying Prevention Month, help put an end to this senseless act by participating in the NEA “Bully Free: It Starts With Me” campaign. NEA aims to identify caring adults in schools and communities who are willing to stand out as someone pledged to help bullied students. By visiting http://www.nea.org/home/NEABullyFreeSchools.html, you can find resources to help stop and prevent bullying in your school, and, you can also take the NEA Bully Free Pledge. Additional resources are available at the PACER National Bullying Prevention Center’s Web site at http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/.

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDROCKY MOUNT, NC

PERMIT NO. 39