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NC still working out rules on teacher furlough

Submitted by WWAY on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 11:32am.READ MORE:
RALEIGH -- They're still working out the rules, but officials say North Carolina teachers included in the furloughs ordered by the governor won't be able to skip teaching days. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Friday that the state Board of Education will be asked to approve that policy next week. Philip Price is the school system's chief financial officer. He says he will recommend that the furloughs be taken on work days when students are not in school. Gov. Beverly Perdue has ordered 10-hour furloughs for state employees, including teachers, and pay cuts of one half of a percent to help make up the state budget deficit. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Ten hours on a workday?

Submitted by Amy (not verified) on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 3:01pm.
So we have to take the ten hours on a workday... When will we do the work that we usually do on that WORKDAY? On our own time, of course. We will not really get ten hours off... It's the same as when they cut off five workdays several years ago. When does the work that we did on those days get done? On our own time. The work is still there... "Giving" us the days off is ridiculous--completely impractical.
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Something is wrong with the picture

Submitted by Teacher in NC (not verified) on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 8:51am.
Gov. Perdue once stated that she would do whatever it took to spare cutting education. Seems like to me its one of the first cuts that was made. As a teacher myself, one of the few perks to our job (other than the rewarding knowledge that you have helped a student, or made some differece in the world) is job security. Seems like that has gone down the drain as well. The public needs to realize that even workdays are essential to our jobs and that they are not just easy, wasted days. I often consider how much money state and county governments could save if they would cut county and state vehicles, clothing expenses, and travel expenses. As a teacher and state employee I get no car, no clothing allowance and no traveling expenses although our job requires us to get in our cars and go to work, dress professionally, and we must attend workshops as a requirement that many times force us to travel distances in excess of 50 miles. Lets get real!!! Where is the billions that the lottery has raised for education? Maybe that bought someone a white sate car? a three piece suit? a tank of gas? I recently heard that the US GOV. gave millions to the Army Corp. of Engineers. TO build parks, dredge rivers and so on. What good are these things if our children are not educated????
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Just to let you know.

Submitted by Guest3244 (not verified) on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 11:45am.
I am also a state worker and have been affected by the changes. I don't think that just take away the cars, travel expenses etc is that easy. If I were to not have a car or trvel expenses I would be working for free because all my money would be spent on those things that are required of my job. Driving to work and dressing appropriately is expected of any job and should not be a responsibility of the employer no matter what job you have. At least teachers can make up some extra money working in the summer, I on the other hand would have to work a second job and never see my family to make up the lost pay. I agree that there are many other ways to cut spending than take it out of the paychecks of the employees directly. If this is a sign of how she is going to govern, then we are all in for a tough few years. Or maybe she doesn't expect to run again.
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Please take this as only my

Submitted by Teacher in NC (not verified) on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 3:04pm.
Please take this as only my expression. I realize that everyone has their own opinion. No offense, but if I had a car and travel expenses I as a teacher would have more money also. My point was - 1)We are required to attend workshops, afterschool activities and even some board meetings. 2) If we have to do these things as a requirement with out pay, why should others? 3)I agree that we should buy our own clothes,I never said otherwise, yet do you realize that many school sup., and even the govenor have a hefty clothing allowance. Also. you are wrong, no all jobs require you to dress up, yet take kids outside, break up fights, get on the floor, and still look professional. 4) I drive over 30 miles one way to work everyday. 5) Does anyone realize that teachers are not paid for lunch? Our pay is based on 37.5 hours. 30min a day for lunch. Sure I will be able to go grab lunch in 30 mins. And I guess that I will leave my kids unattended? 6Your comment about making extra money is rediculously stereotypical. As if to say "Why don't you work through your unpaid vacation." My concern is about people losing there jobs as well, not just pay cuts that can be "made up through the summer". PS I have a second job that I work on weekends and during the summer, as many teachers. As a begining teacher, after taxes I bring home about 24,000 a year. Nothing extreme for a four year degree with no transportation, gas expense and car payment, house payment, kids, phone bill, light bill, water bill.
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I understand your concern

Submitted by Guestefsdf (not verified) on Wed, 05/06/2009 - 11:52pm.
I understand your concern for possible job loss, as do I. In my job it isn't a training or a meeting, I have to visit kids all over the state monthly. I am talking about over 1000 miles a month as well as all the gas. If I were to pay for that I wouldn't just be out a few extra bucks, I would be broke. As for trainigns and meeting and working for free. I am expected to be on call, respond many times after hours as well as attend trainings. I guess I knew what I was getting into when I took the job. As far as clothing allowance and such for superintendants and governers I don't agree with that either. They are making more money than all of us and they are capable of paying for their own clothes. In my job I have to wear suits somedays, casual office on others and street clothes on yet others. As far as job requirements, I also go from a court room to the projects sometimes within the same hour. I have been threatened, assaulted and had to take kids to the ground. It is definately a tough job, but it is the job I signed up for as did you. You had to know that teachers weren't paid very much going in. As far as driving 30 miles to work that is your choice why should taxpayers pay for that. I also don't think that you can compare working on an unpaid vacation to 3 months of paid summer off. Teachers get paid $24,000, as you stated, after taxes for 9 months of work. That is not that bad starting out. If you decide to stay the pay will go up just like my job which isn't much more than you make after being here for 6 years. I guess you can say that I have a bad view of some teachers that I have worked with on my job. I know that there are some teachers that really put it out there and deserve more, but I have met so many who just do it for the summers off and hate dealing with the kids. This comes from direct conversation with the teachers. I just get frustrated with the system too.
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Not bad for 9 months of

Submitted by Jaden (not verified) on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 11:09am.
Not bad for 9 months of work? Good grief. First, it is 10 1/2 months. We get about 8 weeks off. Secondly, many MANY of us still have to do professional development workshops - taking up days and some weeks of our summer. Of my 8 weeks last summer, 2 1/2 were given up to workshops and classes I have to take in order to keep my certification. Am I paid for this time? No. So, you tell me. For 10-11 months of work, you think 24k is not bad? What century are you living in? Especially since we have student loans we have to pay back because we went to college to work for what amounts to a little over $10/hr pre-tax? Oh, but we should get 2nd and 3rd jobs. I mean, my young children can just watch themselves at home while I work this 2nd job. And the raises? Try looking at the "raises" in this state. $150/step - on a good year. Oh, and now Perdue and the other vultures who think education is totally unimportant want to take back the raises that Easley finally managed to get us. Want to look at how we compare to other states? Am I mad? Of course. The public is so blase about the struggles of teachers being able to pay their bills and say "You knew that going in." But then these same types of people have the absolute audacity to critize public education. Usually these are the same people who don't have a clue what their kids are doing and don't care, but expect the teachers to raise their kids. And the politicians are worse. Education is important. Teachers are importand and should be paid more. Lip service. Election fluff. Obviously, it means nothing. If the STATE is in a deficit, then the ENTIRE state should help pay - sales tax increase. Do NOT expect state employees to bail out the politicians who allowed this big of a deficit in the first place. The NC teacher was not suggesting that people who drive 1000 miles a week for their job should lose their driving compensation. Get over it. She was pointing out that there are many perks that come with some of the upper-level state jobs that are not necessary and should be taken into consideration BEFORE we jack up the teachers.
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This is the beginning of the end!!

Submitted by Virgil (not verified) on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 10:29am.
Teacher in NC...I couldn't agree more!! This is incredible. So instead of cutting these stupid useless services and an expansion to some park soewhere we are cutting the pay of teachers. I'll be willing to bet she's not even thinking about cutting soem of the useless services out there because she knows that may cost votes. I wish the working class of this state and the country for that matter.......WAKE UP!! We can only grow government so much. We should have a FEW priorties every thing else is a waste. EDUCATION, DEFENSE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD NEVER BE CUT. Everything else (while important sometime) should go first!!!!!
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No shock

Submitted by hydrantart (not verified) on Sat, 05/02/2009 - 1:05am.
There was never any doubt in my mind that the 10 hours would be restricted to workdays. Teachers are not permitted to take leave without having a substitute teacher in place. As a former teacher, Bev would have known that prior to signing the executive order. I think the NCAE let teachers down on this whole deal. I am not renewing my membership.
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Furloughs

Submitted by William J. Potter (not verified) on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 2:37pm.
As a state worker I am tired of having the budget balanced by taking my pay, benefits, and raising my insurance cost. I do not mind having a pay cut to help other state workers keep their jobs; but first things first. The people who run this state need to cut out all of the wasteful spending and giving to special interest groups. There are better ways to balance a budget than taking from those who work hard to keep this state going. I say the Gov. and the rest should start at the upper levels and work their way down. If you want to save money put them on the same retirment formula as the rest of us. But I guess we all know that things like that will never happen because they are the ones who pass the laws. When you are at the bottom guess what you get! Oh one more thing, did the elected officals take a pay cut? I bet they did not but that is just my thoughts one things.
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furloughs

Submitted by Guest101 (not verified) on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 12:56pm.
Is Gov. Beverly Perdue also going to take a furlough? If struggling workers in the state are getting furloughed and having paycuts to help the state's budget, just think how much will go back to the state if she also participates by taking furlough and a pay cut. She can probably afford it better than the average (or below average) worker.
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teachers should be allowed to take furlough day when they want

Submitted by appleseed (not verified) on Fri, 05/01/2009 - 4:22pm.
So teachers are told their not getting paid for ten hours and now they are going to be told when they can take that day. Why not allow them to at least take it on their own terms. Maybe a day to spend with a child on his/her birthday, anniversary, a start to a three day weekend. I understand furlough days, but those affected should decide the day, not the state.
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Its not just teachers

Submitted by stacey (not verified) on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 1:50pm.
Its not just teachers that are being affected, now its Health care workers also. I work for a state hospital, and make under 23,000.00 per year and the 3% raise that I just got is now being basically taken back. I live from check to check making ends-meet or just graze each other. I do what I do because I love taking care of people, not because of the money. .25% is being cut 2times for the month of June and I'm afraid.Because, What if this isn't enough? to begin to climb out of the debt that NC is in?
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