Sara Loeppert: Lack of respect for teachers

Regarding the June 18 news article “Senate votes on $21.47B budget”: The budget once again shows that the politicians in Raleigh aren’t committed to fixing our schools.

I find the lack of respect shown to veteran teachers by the Senate budget proposal appalling. Although judging from past history, I can’t say I’m surprised.

Despite following through on a promise to raise pay for starting teachers, the Senate proposal gives no raise at all to North Carolina teachers with the most experience. And for teachers with 20 to 24 years of experience, the picture isn’t much better: They’re looking at a 1 percent raise.

This budget fails to take a comprehensive approach to the teacher pay crisis in North Carolina. The Senate offers no long-term plan to raise teacher pay to the national average.

North Carolina will continue to lose our best and brightest teachers to neighboring states ... and even Texas.

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Sara Loeppert: Lack of respect for teachers."