CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Teachers across the Tar Heel State are on the path to joining a nationwide protest, which aims to raise teacher pay and increase public-school funding.
The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) announced a rally date for teachers, students and parents.
The “March for Students and Rally for Respect” advocacy day is set for May 16 in Raleigh, coinciding with the opening day of the North Carolina General Assembly.
"This is about our kids," said Erlene Lyde, who is President of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators. "They are stretched for resources and about the frustration we as teachers feel."
According to NCAE, North Carolina ranks 37th for teacher pay, about $9,600 behind the national average. The state is also among the worst when it comes to how much elected leaders spend per student. That number is about $2,400 less than the national average.
The announcement of the march, however, has sent school districts scrambling to figure out how many teachers will be out of the classroom during a time when many students are taking end-of-year exams.
The school board in Wake County, the state’s largest school district, for example, is meeting Wednesday to decide whether or not to close school for the day.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the state’s second-largest district, has already announced that schools will stay open. They say right now, they are unaware of how many CMS teachers are taking leave days to participate, but in an email to NBC Charlotte said, “The district looks forward to a full day of teaching and learning for students and teachers on May 16.”
Gaston County Schools tells NBC Charlotte, “Teachers who choose to participate will need to put in for a personal leave day, secure a substitute teacher and prepare a lesson plan for the substitute teacher, which is our regular procedure.”
It is against state law for teachers to go on strike but they are allowed to request a personal leave day.
The statewide policy mandates teachers find a substitute teacher and pay a $50 substitute fee. The NCAE’s website also has information for teachers on how to properly submit their request. You can click here for more information.