*** ACTION REQUEST *** HB 13

*** ACTION REQUEST *** Please call Senators Michael Lee and Bill Rabon (yes, both) and ask them to pass HB 13, the Class Size Requirement Changes bill.

Our own Sen. Rabon has ‘tabled’ this crucial fix-it bill in his Rules Committee. Not cool.

Sen. Michael Lee (919) 715-2525
Sen. Bill Rabon (919) 733-5963

Please tag your friends who care about public education in the comments section.

Background: Our public school funding is under assault by the NCGA, and NH, Brunswick and Pender county education officials have been left with a ‘split the baby’ type of decision on their hands.

A provision in the state's 2016-17 budget required schools to bring K-3rd grade class sizes down to strict ratios. We agree smaller classes are better, but shrinking them without paying for new teachers could mean cutting positions for art, PE, literacy coaching, even assistant principals, and using libraries and computer labs for new classrooms.

The counties are forming budgets for the next school year right now and are in a bind. New Hanover County Schools must find $3.2 million for 48 new positions and classrooms to satisfy the rule. In Pender County, it's $2.9 million for 25 classes, and Brunswick County Schools will likely bear a similar cost.

GOP legislators claim the new restrictions were an oversight, and the House unanimously passed a fix-it bill - HB 13 - in February. Why is the Senate stonewalling?

Please call and/or email Rabon and Lee now and insist that this legislation move forward. You don’t need to go into detail - just urge them to pass the bill.

Sen. Michael Lee (919) 715-2525
Sen. Bill Rabon (919) 733-5963

michael.Lee@ncleg.net
bill.Rabon@ncleg.net

♡lmsp