“I feel like (this) is more of a measure of stability.” – Supt. Don Phipps on April 14th, 2026. “Stability” is an interesting word especially when used in the reference to the next budget proposals here in WSFCS. Since April of last year, we as a school system have 1,200 fewer staff members. More cuts … Continue reading More Cuts Ain’t Gonna Give Stability

On a day where our General Assembly still has made no progress toward a new budget that amply funds public schools, where a state supreme court overturned the dictates of the LEANDRO court decision, and a looming deficit in our local school system, it is easy to feel some anger on this day toward our … Continue reading Those Are “Our” Kids – About What Happened Near Two Of Our Schools Today

Imagine the state of public education in North Carolina right before the Great Recession. The “sides” are sound and strong. There is support from the state government on all sides. Look at those four sides as four different categories that need to be fairly monitored closely and supported adequately to keep public education going strong. … Continue reading Another Reason To Put #KidsOverCorporations – They Are Tearing Down The Once Strong Walls Of NC Public Education

You can be either “at” the table or “on” the table. For teachers in North Carolina, there are many other prepositions that could identify the relationship between the legislation process and teacher input such as “under” the table, “without” a place at the table, or “behind” the table. As a veteran public school teacher, when … Continue reading Reason #23 To Put #KidsOverCorporations – The Need for More Teacher Input in Educational “Reform”

That “slide” above is from a 2019 presentation about the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) Retirement Planning. 2019 was before the COVID-19 pandemic. It would be interesting and predictably disheartening to question LEA HR directors about how many calls they are fielding from veteran teachers concerning retirement and early retirement requirements and possibilities. As … Continue reading Reason #22 To Put #KidsOverCorporations – NC Doesn’t Have To Just Worry About Recruiting Teacher Candidates. It Needs To Worry About Retaining Current Teachers.

The cuts that were made in positions in WSFCS this past school year (RIFs, etc.) were drastic, untimely, and harsh. And the most affected were those in EC classrooms and other "student-facing" positions. Before tonight's school board meeting that is to see the unveling of next year's budget request, Supt. Phipps and WSFCS released a … Continue reading The “Silent Cuts” In WSFCS That Don’t Get Talked About

Last year State Superintendent Mo Green and DPI discussed possibly changing the school performance grading system. Again. This is not a new idea. It was talked about in 2024. And now… They don’t need to be changed; they need to be eliminated. For over ten years, this system of “measurement” has stigmatized public schools and … Continue reading Reason #21 To Put #KidsOverCorporations – Too Many of Our Students Live In Poverty in a Gerrymandered State

If due-process rights are not restored for new teachers, then the idea of having a rally or a march to advocate for students and schools ten to fifteen years from now would likely never happen. They are that important! Their removal was a beginning step in a patient, scripted, and ALEC-allying plan that systematically tries … Continue reading Reason #20 To Put #KidsOverCorporations – Removal of Due-Process Rights and Career Status for Teachers

Many times over the last 20-plus summers, I have heard from many well-intentioned people that it must be nice to have a job that allows one to only work 10 months out of a year. Some even think it’s a nine month commitment. And most of those people do not understand what all is done … Continue reading Reason #19 To Put #KidsOverCorporations – Because While NC Teachers Are Considered 10-Month Employees, They Are Really 12-Month Educators

The powers that rule in the North Carolina General Assembly have been waging a war against public schools in our state for the last four years. Under the guise of “reform,” GOP conservatives driven by ALEC-crafted policies have successfully enabled and instituted privatization efforts in many forms: unregulated charter school development, expansive growth of unproven … Continue reading Reason #18 To Put #KidsOverCorporations – The North Carolina General Assembly’s Intent: Make Veteran Teachers Extinct