After weeks without any new action on the vetoed State budget, Republican leaders in the House and Senate have begun pulling certain budget provisions to run as separate, mini budget bills. Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) confirmed yesterday during a press conference on returning surplus funds to taxpayers that they have begun sending forward pieces of the budget that are “widely agreed upon” for stand-alone approval.
A bill dealing with public school testing reform emerged from a House-Senate negotiating committee late Wednesday, and now includes greatly needed changes to two laws passed earlier this session that triggered some negative unintended consequences for hiring teachers for the new school year. The Conference Committee proposal for Senate Bill 621 now includes clarifying changes to previously enacted Senate Bill 399 regarding retirees returning to the classroom, as well as Senate Bill 219 regarding teacher licensure. The clarifying changes to both laws were requested by the NC Association of School Administrators (NCASA), which has worked feverishly the last few weeks to convince lawmakers that these time-sensitive changes are critical for school districts.
A House-Senate negotiating committee reached a compromise Wednesday on changes needed to the state’s public school testing requirements. That compromise, contained in the Conference Committee proposal for Senate Bill 621, is set for both House and Senate floor votes Monday 8/26.
Dr. Lory Morrow, Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools, has joined Dr. Patrick Miller, Superintendent of Greene County Schools, in representing North Carolina on the Governing Board for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Dr. Morrow, who also is President-Elect of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA), was recognized for this appointment Tuesday at her local board of education meeting by Jack Hoke, Executive Director of the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association (NCSSA), which is one of NCASA’s core affiliates.
