RALEIGH, N.C. — Thousands of educators from across North Carolina rallied in Raleigh, demanding better pay and increased funding for public education. The demonstration led to the cancellation of school in 23 districts, as teachers and staff joined the call for higher wages and improved resources.
The North Carolina GOP called it a teacher-union-led stunt that impacted parents.
There were passionate people in a sea of red and white who said they aren’t giving up on higher wages for teachers and increased funding for public education in North Carolina.
Ashlyn Ozment with Cabarrus County Schools has been an educator for more than 15 years.
“There needs to be an increase. We need to help our beginning teachers,” Ozment said.
The theme of the rally and march around North Carolina’s legislative nerve center was “Kids Over Corporations.”
Some of their demands to lawmakers are to end corporate tax breaks, and redirect that money to public education, and raise the amount of per student funding from $13,000 per student to $20,000 by 2030.
“It’s not enough counselors,” said Tiffany Banks. “It’s not enough social workers. There are not enough EC support for those students that need those services.”
Educators said there is a real sense of urgency and marches are part of a strategy.
“We already saw in our primary elections, people who are not pro-public education, we’re getting them out,” said Amanda Thompson, with CMS.
Channel 9’s Jonathan Lowe reached out to the NCGOP for a statement on the teacher rally.
They released a statement, which read: “Republicans are committed to quality education for all students and empowering families with the best education options. The left-wing special interests, like (the North Carolina Association of Educators) and the national unions, are not aligned with the vast majority of North Carolina teachers — those who want the best for their students and don’t want to be used as political props.
“Republicans stand behind our educators and support commonsense policies allowing the focus to be on the classroom and the students.”
Classes were cancelled for Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Kannapolis City Schools and Mooresville Graded School District.
Prior to the rally, educators in Charlotte gathered at the Target in University City to board buses heading to the state capital.
“Anytime that people stand behind each other, there’s a possibility of change,” Brandon Brown said Friday morning. “There’s always change, but we have to connect and unify. Once we unify and people see the unity, then things will change.”
They’re also pushing North Carolina legislators to finalize a state budget. Teachers say without a budget in place, raises have stalled and some are paying more out of pocket for expenses, like healthcare.
“It’s actually very hopeful to come together with all my coworkers, parents and students and make our voices heard,” Rae Legrone, a teacher heading to the rally, said. “Even though we’re living in a tough times, it’s exciting to do something positive.”
State leaders also weighed in.
“Our top priority in North Carolina public schools is our students, and educators know the most important place they can be is in the classroom,” State Superintendent Mo Green said.
Governor Josh Stein shared on social media that he met with a teacher that had moved to NC from SC for better pay. She told him that now she spends hundreds of dollars at the beginning of each school year to provide for her student’s classroom needs.
Stein said SC spends $5,500 more per student than NC does. That totals to about $8 billion more invested. He says his budget provides a pay raise, master’s pay for veteran teachers, and a school supply stipend.
“Let’s make smart investments to right this wrong,” he said.