News

Opponents of Longer School Day Dislike District Response

CHARLOTTE — Even though Superintendent Heath Morrison promised to work with concerned parents soon after he took his current position in 2012, he has not recommended any changes to the schedule. Moreover, the district’s chief of staff reportedly has blocked teachers and parents who oppose the new schedule from expressing their concerns at public meetings.

Karen McMahan
News

Opponents: Longer CMS Day Creates Hardships

RALEIGH — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is continuing a two-year-old program expanding the elementary school day by 45 minutes to seven hours, even though many parents, teachers, and students have raised objections to the “late bell” program. The program was expanded systemwide in 2011 with no public input even though an internal review of a pilot program at one CMS school found “no positive outcomes.”

Karen McMahan
News

Parents Chafe At National Student-Tracking Database

RALEIGH — The Shared Learning Infrastructure, built over the past 18 months, stores millions of K-12 student records identified by name, address, race/ethnicity, economic status, guardian, primary language, grade, test scores, attendance, school and non-school activities, and much more. Even Social Security numbers sometimes are collected and stored.

Karen McMahan
News

Fed Consumer Bureau Eyeing Retirement Savings

RALEIGH — Representatives of the financial industry and policy analysts are concerned about reports that the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is considering taking a formal role in helping Americans better understand and manage their retirement savings. Such a move would mark the agency’s first entry into consumer retirement investments.

Karen McMahan
News

Elected Council of State, While Unwieldy, Is Unlikely To Change

RALEIGH — Changing the method of selection for governor, lieutenant governor, and any of North Carolina’s other Council of State officials would require a constitutional amendment. Twenty-six states elect a joint ticket for governor and lieutenant governor, and most appoint leaders of education and agriculture policy.

Karen McMahan

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News

House District 35 Contenders Have Wake School Board Ties

RALEIGH — In Wake County, the open-seat contest in N.C. House District 35 features two candidates with ties to the Wake County school board, which recently has been roiled with controversy over partisan politics, especially over student assignment policies. Current Wake County school board member Chris Malone, a Republican, faces Democrat Lori Millberg, who sat on the school board from 2005-09.

Karen McMahan
News

Bibbs and Martin Battle for Open Seat in State House District 8

RALEIGH — Improving education and restraining electricity rates are among the top issues facing the candidates for state House District 8, covering parts of Pitt and Wilson counties. Two Wilson residents are vying for the seat — attorney Mark Bibbs, a Democrat, and Republican Susan Martin, an MBA who retired from IBM.

Karen McMahan
News

First-Term Incumbent Rabon Faces Newcomer Hefner in New Senate District 8

RALEIGH — Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, a Southport veterinarian completing his first term, is defending his seat against civil engineer and U.S. Marine veteran Danny Hefner, D-Brunswick, in a new Senate District 8 created by the Republican-led state legislature’s redistricting that swapped Columbus for Bladen County.

Karen McMahan
News

Barringer and Portman Vie For Open Seat in State Senate District 17

RALEIGH — Jobs and education are the top issues in the campaign to succeed retiring five-term Republican Sen. Richard Stevens for state Senate District 17, which covers southwestern Wake County. The race pits Republican attorney Tamara Barringer against Democratic Wake County Commissioner Erv Portman in this Republican-leaning district.

Karen McMahan
News

If ALEC Violates Tax-Exempt Status, What About NCSL?

RALEIGH — Activities such as bill drafting, model legislation, and disseminating research and analysis for the use of legislators are standard activities for many nonprofits of the right and left. Only ALEC has drawn the ire of left-of-center groups for its participation in these activities.

Karen McMahan