Bill for teacher bonuses awaits Cooper's decision; teacher says it's not enough

GREENVILLE, Pitt County — A new bill awaiting Governor Roy Cooper's signature or veto would give teachers across the state a bonus, but one area teacher says it is not enough.

Senate Bill 818 would give teachers a $350 dollar bonus, but 10-year teacher and Vice President of Pitt County Association of Educators Elyse McRae says it is not enough to help schools and educators.

The eight-page bill gives teachers across North Carolina state their annual step increase and a one-time $350 dollar bonus, but no salary increase.

McRae says Cooper and lawmakers should consider increasing overall education funding and supporting non-certified personnel like custodians and bus drivers, who make schools run smoothly.

“If bus drivers, our school receptionists, our cafeteria workers, if any of them walked out of our school right now our school could not function,” she explains.

She says teachers spend anywhere from $300 to $500 a year to stock their classrooms with supplies.

“Educators should not have to pull out of their pockets,” McRae says.

A section in the bill encourages Cooper to give teachers an additional $600 dollar bonus out of the governor’s emergency education relief fund by way of the federal CARES Act, but a governor’s spokesperson says the act prevents it from being used for teacher bonuses.

Last year, Cooper asked the general assembly for sizeable permanent salary increases for teachers; however, this bill does not include it. Meanwhile, lawmakers are having to rebalance the budget with an estimated $4 billion revenue loss because of the economic shutdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic.