Protestors call on General Assembly to fix class size requirements
A crowd of concerned parents, students, teachers, administrators, and others gathered in the freezing cold behind the General Assembly Saturday to call on lawmakers to fix the class size requirements slated to go into full effect next year.
Scenes from the class size rally. #nced #ncga pic.twitter.com/ddsHJjELwl
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
In the 2016 short session, the General Assembly passed requirements that would mandate lower class sizes in grades K-3. Due to a peculiarity of how district’s teachers are funded, the mandate seemed to amount to a defunding of enhancement (arts, Physical Education, music, etc.) teachers around the state. See this EdExplainer for the background.
Scenes from the class size rally #nced pic.twitter.com/36ffEVdNjl
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
Lawmakers tackled the issue in the 2017 long session of the General Assembly. First, the House passed House Bill 13, which loosened the restrictions, giving districts the relief they wanted. But when the bill hit the Senate, lawmakers changed it, delaying the full implementation of the restrictions by one year. The Senate version became law.
Scenes from the class size rally #nced #ncga pic.twitter.com/5CbhQGQzqY
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
The class size requirements go into full effect in the 2018-19 school year. Those who attended the rally Saturday hope to convince legislators to take up the requirements during the special session slated to start Wednesday.
Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union, a chair of the House K-12 education and education appropriations committees, said in a phone call that he does not anticipate the requirements being tackled during this week’s special session. Lawmakers are aware of the issue and will take up the problem, most likely before the spring short session, he said. Horn gave a timeline of February or March.
Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes, a chair of the House K-12 education and education appropriations committees, also said he did not anticipate the class size restrictions being taken up at this week’s special session.
And more scenes from the #nced class size rally at #ncga pic.twitter.com/tRDthXgCz0
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
Below are the speakers from the rally Saturday. Click on the individual videos to hear what they had to say about the impact of the class size requirements.
Justin Parmenter, Charlotte teacher
,@JustinParmenter: "we must not rob Peter to pay Paul." Says lower class sizes are good but not at the expense of enhancement teachers #nced
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
John deVille, Macon County teacher
DeVille: "we are standing out in the cold today because the NC General Assembly has thrown our children out in the cold." #nced #ncga
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
Jennifer Mangrum, UNC-G assistant education professor
Mangrum announcing her commitment to run against @SenatorBerger to big cheers and someone yelling out "run girl, run." #nced #ncga
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
Esteban Garcia, parent of Yadkin County student
speaker: Esteban Garcia. parent of Yadkin County student. Garcia' wife died. Garcia said his kid expressed grief in art class #nced #ncga
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
Tamika Walker Kelly, Cumberland County elementary music teacher
Kelly: "we want an end to the class size chaos because our specialists are the heartbeat of a school. #nced #ncga
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
Maggie Fewkes, student at Davis Drive Middle school
Michelle Burton, Durham County librarian
Burton: "children want to be inspired. And arts inspire kids. High stakes tests do not inspire kids." #nced #ncga
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018
Faisal Khan, founder of the Carolina Peace Center
Khan on #ncga: "how are they not willing to listen to their constituents? How are they not willing to listen to these kids." #nced
— Alex Granados (@agranadoster) January 6, 2018