Wake NCAE, which represents 5,000 Wake County's school employees, is citing school funding in announcing its reasons for its school board candidate endorsements.
In a press release today, Wake NCAE announced it was endorsing Kevin Hill in District 3, Keith Sutton in District 4, Jim Martin in District 5, Christine Kushner in District 6 and Susan Evans in District 8.
In the release, Wake NCAE faulted the current school board majority for not having backed a motion to ask county commissioners for enough funding "that could have prevented" cuts this year such as laying off custodians and cutting pay for teacher assistants.
"All of the candidates recommended by Wake NCAE would have voted differently to protect our public schools in this challenging economic climate," according to the press release.
It's worth noting that just asking commissioners for the money doesn't mean it would have been provided. The commissioners could have voted no if the school board had voted to make the request.
Wake NCAE didn't appear to give much credit to the repeated arguments made by the board majority and their supporters how they, unlike prior boards, were able to balance the budget this year without laying off teachers. It did help the current board that the $28 million in one-time federal jobs money paid for hundreds of positions this year.
Also in the press release, Wake NCAE says its endorsed school board candidates "will move swiftly to build a student assignment plan that will provide stability for families and prevent the creation of low achieving schools.
“Our recommended candidates will clearly put students and families first and return the focus of the School Board back where it belongs – the students of Wake County Public Schools,” said Larry Nilles, Vice-President of Wake NCAE, in the press release.
The importance of Wake NCAE's endorsement is debatable. All four of the candidates backed by the group in 2009 were defeated by members of the new board majority.
Relations have been strained ever since, with the most notable difference being over the board majority's decision to scrap the Wake Wednesday/Wacky Wednesday early dismissals supported by Wake NCAE.
In making these endorsements, Wake NCAE picked Kushner over George Morgan and Mary Ann Weathers, who are both retired educators.
Today's Wake NCAE announcement mirrors the endorsements made Tuesday by the Wake County Democratic Party.
Comments
NCAE endorsed four losers last time...
Thu, 09/01/2011 - 19:52 — NoRalNerd...let's hope they fare so well again.
TKH & Steve Ford ???
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 23:12 — AgentPierceHowsabout YOUR recommends T. Keung? And Steve Ford's ? And Cash Michaels & Bill Barber's ..... we are all holding our breath in anxious anticipation!
Every time the NCAE comes
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 19:23 — woodstockEvery time the NCAE comes out with a public statement, they reveal their partisanship and become increasingly irrelevant. They are a joke and most of the educators in Wake County know it... that is why they don't belong to this highly political far left wing organization. Everyone of the candidates they endorsed support the failed and antiquated status quo policies that were rejected by citizens of Wake County and have been systematically rejected by coummunities across the nation over the past few decades. Two of the endorsed candidates -- Jim Martin and Susan Evan -- are just offensive human beings... and there is plenty of video to prove it.
NCAE's endorsements are a charade, they simply mimic the Democrat Party line. Hell, I could pick the NCAE-endorsed candidates and be right 99.99% of the time. It is pure 100% politics... but, of course, they are "nonpartisan." Yeah, right.
There will be many NCAE
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 17:46 — VillageMentalityThere will be many NCAE members who WON'T be voting for these folks......
Unfortunately there won't be...
Thu, 09/01/2011 - 06:51 — bpuli9999many republicans not voting for the party candidates. They can't think for themselves. Party first. Yay!
In unrelated news
Thu, 09/01/2011 - 10:52 — Voice_of_Reason_All Democrats who can't spell the word school will come out and look at their preprinted sample ballots and vote Democrat. Especially true in this election where I am not sure party affiliation is on the ballot.
Are you
Thu, 09/01/2011 - 13:21 — Dove314Are you implying the same won't be true for the Republican party? At every vote for the last many years, both parties have set up camps outside my polling place, shovelling materials and sample ballots at me as I run fast for the "No campaigning beyond this point" signs.
Of course not
Thu, 09/01/2011 - 13:49 — Voice_of_Reason_It all has to do with spelling school.
And in other news
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 17:43 — FSandYOUIrene may have damaged Labor Day weekend plans for many east coast vacations. Call ahead for updates and cancelations.
so yeah
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 17:32 — AngelaWgood to know the NCAE isn't political either....puhlease
"In making these endorsements, Wake NCAE picked Kushner over George Morgan and Mary Ann Weathers, who are both retired educators.
Today's Wake NCAE announcement mirrors the endorsements made Tuesday by the Wake County Democratic Party"