NORTH CAROLINA – The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and its members held “Schools Stand Together” events across the state this morning to support communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. The events were held at 25 schools with educators calling on lawmakers to aid educators and schools impacted by the storm.
“Public schools are the cornerstone of our community, evermore so when natural disaster strikes,” said NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly. “We’re calling on lawmakers to pass legislation, as they have in the past, to support our teachers and public-school workers during this critical time. By taking quick action our state lawmakers can ease the burden on our educators, students, and families—many of whom may have lost everything.”
The following schools participated in today's events:
Brunson Elementary, Winston-Salem
Carver Elementary, Henderson
Chatham Early College, Siler City
Chatham Grove Elementary, Pittsboro
Enloe High, Raleigh
Fuquay-Varina Elementary, Fuquay-Varina
Garinger High, Charlotte
Hoggard High, Wilmington
Hunters Creek Elementary, Jacksonville
JC Tayloe Elementary, Washington
Lowrance Middle, Winston-Salem
Mount Tabor High, Winston-Salem
Murray Middle, Wilmington
North Davidson High, Lexington
Northeast Guilford High, McLeansville
Northwood High, Pittsboro
Olympic High, Charlotte
Perry Harrison Elementary, Pittsboro
Phillip O. Berry Academy, Charlotte
Princeville Elementary, Princeville
Reedy Fork Area Elementary, Greensboro
South Creek Middle, Robersonville
South View High, Hope Mills
Southern Lee High, Sanford
White Oak High, Jacksonville
The needs of Western North Carolina have never been more urgent and NCAE’s legislative agenda, focused on ensuring every child receives the support they need and deserve, remains true - 1) mental health support for students; 2) tutoring support for students; 3) free breakfast and lunch for students; and 4) recruit and retain high-quality educators for students. While these priorities remain critical for western North Carolina, our educators, students, and their families, face more pressing needs so NCAE urges the General Assembly to act on five urgent education-related needs:
- Protect all public-school staff from pay and leave reductions for the duration of the crisis ensuring no educator suffers unnecessary financial hardship.
- Provide calendar flexibility for impacted schools districts through the end of this school year, recognizing the immense disruption communities will face.
- Ensure school districts are not penalized for student enrollment declines due to temporary relocations, safeguarding vital funding during this transition.
- Meals for students in the Western counties hit by Helene so no child goes hungry while families work to rebuild their lives.
- Rebuild safe and sturdy schools across the state.
NCAE believes we must prioritize rebuilding our mountain region and move to protect the future of our students through critical investments in education infrastructure. What we can't afford are non-essential priorities like private school vouchers. Local public schools serve us all and we must protect them from disaster.
In an op-ed published today by the Charlotte Observer and News & Observer, NCAE Vice President Bryan Proffitt wrote, “Throughout our mountain region, we have seen neighbors gathering at public schools for showers, water and cell service. Educators have called through class rosters, offering support and love to students and their families. Public schools in counties around the state have already started to welcome displaced families into their communities. Schools keep more of us connected on a regular basis than any other institution in our community. A storm won’t change that.”
