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OBSERVATIONS
June 24, 2021 |
 |
 Wingate Lassiter |
More important than CRT is some
TLC for our front-line educators
We heard a lot of preaching and political posturing about the evils of Critical Race Theory (CRT) during the County Commissioners' recent sessions on the 2021-22 budget that was adopted this week.
What we didn't hear mentioned at all were sensible proposals put forth by Johnston's school leaders to raise the academic performance of students by attracting and retaining the top-notch teachers necessary to reach that important goal.
Not one word was said about an incentive pay plan that would reward teachers and staff at schools that improve their student outcomes. Under the school board's proposal, teachers and all other employees at low-performing schools that raise their state "report card" grades from a D or an F to a C or better would get bonus pay paid directly from the county beyond the school system's normal operating budget since the cost wouldn't be known until those results are realized.
Furthermore, the commissioners' budget discussions overlooked a proposed increase in salary supplements to slow down the loss of our teachers to neighboring Wake County where pay will always be better. Instead, all the talk was about a CRT policy to address a perceived wildfire fueled by the political heat of the day more than a genuine concern for honest education.
Perhaps those initiatives to boost teaching will eventually get funded as County Commissioners say they'll revisit school appropriations once the state has decided on its funding for public schools in the year before us.
But for now those worthy proposals hang in limbo. And that will make recruiting teachers to Johnston County harder than it ought to be.
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