RALEIGH, N.C.  – Those who have fought to have North Carolina’s public schools adopt more detailed policies to prevent bullying neared a victory Monday night in the Legislature.

The House narrowly gave its initial approval to a bill that would require schools to create policies that at a minimum list perceived characteristics of a person likely to be bullied. The Senate has already given its OK.

Should the House give final approval as early as Tuesday, it might end a legislative fight going back to 2007 that has focused largely on the list because it includes sexual orientation.

“People are afraid to deal with those two words,” said Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, the chief supporter of the bill in the House, before the measure was approved 59-57. “That child deserves as much protection as any other child.”

The bill would go to Gov. Beverly Perdue’s desk if it gets the final legislative green light. The measure fell short of passage late in last year’s session.

Bill proponents gave several examples of situations where students tormented by bullies have lived in fear or committed suicide. Earlier this year, an 11-year-old boy killed himself in Georgia because, according to his mother, he was continuously teased by other students.

Social conservatives and Christian groups have argued all children can be protected without the list of characteristics and have pushed a competing bill.

If bullies are still getting away with hurting other children, it’s because a 2004 anti-bullying directive by the State Board of Education – that also contained no list – isn’t being carried out, said Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake.

“Bullies bully because they can get away with it,” Dollar said.

The debate was tense as passionate lawmakers on each side argued the other was trying to bring in cultural politics about gays and lesbians over an education proposal.

“This is our moral obligation to protect all of our children,” said Rep. Tricia Cotham, D-Mecklenburg, an assistant principal, who remembered a friend while she was in school who was teased relentlessly about her obesity.

Lawmakers who want to leave out some children from the bullying law, she added, are saying “there are some kids that aren’t just worth protecting. That is wrong and it is sad.”

Rep. Dale Folwell, R-Foysth, who opposed the bill, said it was unfair for some to say people like him didn’t care about children because they disagreed with how bullying policies should be created.

“We are against bullying of anyone at any time and at any place,” said Folwell, adding that by putting sexual orientation and gender identity into the bill, “it’s the people of North Carolina who are being bullied on the floor of the House.”

Seven Democrats joined 50 Republicans in voting for the measure, while only one GOP member – first-term Rep. Jamie Boles of Moore County – voted yes with 58 Democrats. Four members – three Democrats and one Republican – didn’t vote or had an excused absence.

“We’re pleased that the House today (voted) to make all kids  safer,” said Ian Palmquist with the gay rights group Equality North Carolina.

The state’s two Roman Catholic bishops have opposed the bill because they said identifying sexual orientation could possibly encourage the courts or lawmakers to approve same-sex marriage. The bill’s language states no protected classes of people are being created.

About 20 of the state’s 115 school districts already have created policies somewhat similar to what the bill would require, according to Sen. Julia Boseman, R-New Hanover, the bill’s primary sponsor.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The pending resignation of Wake Board of Education Chair Rosa Gill means change will come sooner than expected on the Wake County School Board.

Today is Gill’s last school board meeting. She will serve the remainder of the term for North Carolina state Rep. Dan Blue.

Blue gave up his House seat when he was asked to fill the unexpired term of the late state Sen. Vernon Malone.

Gov. Bev Perdue still must appoint Gill, but under state law she has to take the Democratic Party’s choice because Blue is also a Democrat.

Gill defeated Bernard Allen II in the party’s voting.

The 65-year-old Gill is a former teacher, administrator with the Department of Motor Vehicles and chair of the Wake County Democratic Party. She has been on the Wake County School Board since 1999.

Gill anticipates being approved by the Governor within days.

School board policy is that a successor is appointed by the board to serve the remainder of the term, which ends in 2011. Gill said there are no official nominees yet, but she expects her successor to be like-minded.

Gill anticipates the board will name her successor by the end of July.

One name being mentioned is Bernard Allen Jr., a leader in the Wake Democratic Party. He also was a candidate for the House seat. Venita Peyton, a longtime Raleigh political activist and Republican, also has expressed an interest in the board post.Four school board seats already will be on the ballot in the fall. District 2 Representative Howard Tart is the only board member running for re-election. Lori Millberg, Eleanor Goettee, and Patti Head have all said they will not run again.

Winston-Salem Journal

With a projected revenue shortfall of approximately $4 billion, legislators are making painful spending cuts. But one proposed by House members responsible for the education budget is just unacceptable, no matter how large the deficit.

North Carolina cannot afford to pare five days from the 2009-10 school calendar and 10 from the year following. The $100 million in projected savings in the first year, and $200 million in the second, is a classic example of being “penny wise and pound foolish.”

When House education-budget leaders proposed the cut, skeptics smiled. It appeared to be a ploy to force cuts elsewhere or hike taxes. But the smiles quickly disappeared when legislative leaders confirmed that the school year might really be shortened.

This would be a horrible move, first of all, in educational terms.

At 180 days a year, American children already have one of the shortest school calendars among industrialized nations. Children in the countries with which America will compete in the 21st century already attend for as many as 240 days a year.

North Carolina cannot afford to go backward in this competition. Instead, we should be moving forward, expanding the school year and giving our children better and stronger educational opportunities. The skills our children must master in school are growing, not shrinking. They need more math, science and technology training, and more focus on communication and economics.

A cut in the school year could also be disastrous to the state’s business climate. A savings of $300 million over two years is significant, but compared to what may be lost to the state’s educational reputation, it is a pittance.

North Carolina’s population has grown so much in recent decades, and our business climate has improved so significantly, in large part because our public schools are sound. With this cut, we would be telling business leaders that our commitment to top-notch schools is limited to good times, not bad.

If the state were to cut the school year, the savings would come largely from teachers. Already underpaid, they’d lose income when furloughed for five or 10 days. Given that there is a national teacher shortage and that retaining good, young teachers has been a serious challenge here, North Carolina would be inviting teachers to find other careers.

Finally, we ask where children will go for the week. Many struggling families will be hit with the need to pay for an extra week of day care.

House leaders say the calendar cut is still on the table. They should remove it immediately. It is a foolish proposal and one that would do great harm to our children, economy and teachers.

Wake Schools Community Alliance (WSCA) is endorsing Chris Malone for Wake County School Board District 1, according to a release issued Tuesday. Malone announced his candidacy on June 5.

According to the release:

“Chris Malone and Wake Schools Community Alliance (WSCA) share the common objective of restoring parental voice and choice in our school system.  For too long, our Wake County School Board members have ignored input from parents and stakeholders.  WSCA members share Chris’s optimism that with the right leadership, Wake County Schools can do a much better job.”

“As an experienced businessman, community leader and parent with children with Wake County Public Schools, Chris Malone has all the tools to deliver effective representation for District 1 and all of Wake County.”

WSCA has an open invitation to all Wake County citizens to join our group and help achieve our immediate goal of electing four new School Board members who will remember that citizens are at the top, not bottom, of the government organization chart.  Our next meeting is Thursday, June 18, in Knightdale.  All Wake County citizens are welcome, and we especially encourage voters in District 1 to come to the meeting and meet Chris Malone.  Please visit our web site at www.wakesca.org to learn more about WSCA.

RALEIGH, N.C. – House budget writers have dropped a requirement that North Carolina public schools be open fewer days next year.

But Tuesday’s decision by the House education subcommittee to remove the requirement doesn’t eliminate the possibility that local districts could close schools a few extra days.

A budget plan last week would have reduced the public school calendar from 180 days to 175 in the next school year and to 170 days the following year. Education supporters criticized the idea as a step backward.

Subcommittee co-chairman Rep. Ray Rapp of Madison County said Democrats are still considering whether to require teacher furloughs for several days. Rapp said local districts could close school for some of those furlough days.

RALEIGH, N.C. – As a result of the widespread attention given to the Wake County Republican Party’s call for year-round students to skip school on Memorial Day, Wake GOP Chairman Claude E. Pope, Jr. points out that it is only the bad decision of the administrators and school board majority that have made parents and students choose whether or not to attend school on an important national holiday.

“The issue of students having to go to school on Memorial Day is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue, but it is telling that our GOP organization was the only group that decided to take a stand,” said Pope.  “The Wake GOP fully respects the education of our students, but students should not be forced to go to school on such an important holiday in lieu of a day given off to beat Thanksgiving traffic.  Every American should be honoring the military heroes who gave their lives for our freedom on Memorial Day with their families.”

When the Wake County GOP called the WCPSS central offices to inquire about attendance figures for Memorial Day, the offices were closed.  Estimated reported figures indicate that only 60 percent of students at the schools were in attendance.  The Wake County GOP received numerous calls and emails from parents saying that they were keeping their children home to observe the holiday appropriately.

The Wake County Republican Party in North Carolina seeks to recruit, train, support, and elect local candidates to all municipal, school board, county, and legislative seats.  The Wake County GOP focuses its mission around the key values of fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, family and neighborhoods, and government accountability.  For further information, visit www.wakegop.org.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Wake GOP Chairman Claude E. Pope, Jr. is assailing the Wake County Public School System’s (WCPSS) decision to send all students on year-round calendars to school on Memorial Day.  These tens of thousands of students, along with traditional calendar students, instead did not go to school the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, a convenience holiday.

“Memorial Day, which was established in 1868, is a national holiday of remembrance of the millions of American patriots who have fought to protect this country’s freedom.  It is shameful that the WCPSS decided to make this special day a school day for Wake students who attend year-round schools,” said Pope.  “On behalf of the Wake County Republican Party, I urge parents to keep their children home from school so that they can honor our veterans with their families.

“Decisions by the school board and WCPSS like this once again illustrate that the needs of Wake parents and students are not a priority.  This is why the Wake GOP and PACs like Take Wake Schools Back are working hard to recruit and elect four new school board members who will make common-sense decisions and listen to parents,” Pope added.

RALEIGH, N.C.  – North Carolina public school districts could start classes as much as 2 1/2 weeks earlier in a bill tentatively approved in the House.

The bill approved 77-41 Wednesday is the latest effort by state education groups to loosen a 2004 law requiring schools to begin no earlier than Aug. 25 and end by June 10. The measure would move the start date to as early as Aug. 8.

The original law has been defended by the tourism industry and parents who want to keep traditional summer vacations.

Bill supporters said districts should have the flexibility to decide when classes begin. Rep. Paul Luebke of Durham County argued it also would ensure exams end before Christmas break.

A final vote could come Thursday. Then it would go to the Senate.

North Carolina schools could start the academic year two weeks earlier under a bill getting another hearing in a state House committee, the N&O reports.