‘Not enough’: Teachers voice concerns over pay, student spending

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A town hall for teachers talked about issues with pay and funding for supplies in North Carolina and local schools. The discussion came as several states are seeing teacher and staff walkouts.

The National Educator’s Association reports that after adjusted for inflation, North Carolina invests $476 less per student since the recession began. The report says the state ranks 43rd in the nation for per-student spending, investing about $2,800 less than the national average.

Members of the New Hanover County Association of Educators took part in the discussion.

The State Educators Association hosted the discussion after they released new numbers this week showing state teacher pay averages ranking 39th in the nation.

The state legislature approved raising average salaries to more than $50,000. The association says the latest numbers still are not accounting for inflation and enrollment numbers.

Teachers locally say what they are getting is not enough.

“Most teachers in my building they’re there around 7:30 a.m. and they’re there until 4 p.m., then they’ve got to go work another job until 9 or 10 at night, something is wrong with that picture,” Dallas Brown, New Hanover County Association of Educators, said.

Raine Jirak is one of those who picks up a second job on top of her art classes.

“I have to work a part time job in our home doing art lessons because I am an art teacher, just to pay simple bills,” Jirak said.

Jirak, like the state educator’s association, said lawmakers need to also look at changes outside of the classroom that are affecting how far a paycheck can go in a teacher’s home.

“I make less now than I did. I spend hundreds on insurance, I mean I appreciate the insurance but it’s literally killing us,” Jirak said.

House Speaker Moore’s office returned our request for comment saying the 6.5% increase in pay coming in 2018 marks 5 years in a row the GOP led assembly has addressed paying educators. His office says within the last two years, Raleigh has worked in an 11% increase in teacher pay.

A series of these town halls are happening around the state leading up to the educators association hosting an advocacy day.

The plan to march on May 16 in Raleigh as legislators begin the short session.