Document Actions
Tuesday: School Daze
posted at 2007-04-03 11:50 | Last modified 2007-11-14 10:38
House lawmakers have given a preliminary OK to school boards seeking more autonomy in setting their class schedules.
An amendment apparently written, run, and passed on the House floor today adds some lip-service requirements to the bill, like requiring school systems to set up “Calendar Committees” that include at least one County Commissioner, whose sole vote probably wouldn’t make much difference either way.
NCNN's Matt WIlloughby told me earlier that House Rules Chair Bill Owens (D - Pasquotank) had planned to run an amendment requiring the approval of the entire County Commission, which might have counted for something. But apparently, this was the caucus compromise. (I saw Owens headed out the House door after session. He didn't look happy.)
The amended bill also requires districts seeking exemption from the August 25th start date to prove it’s for academic reasons, not extracurricular ones. (Watch out for those crazy marching band boosters!) For the record, virtually every district could cite its reason for exemption as coordination with its community college start date, which is always earlier than the 25th.
Best quote of the day – Carteret Republican Pat McElraft, responding to supporters’ arguments that the 2004 late start bill is designed to help to industry more than education. Her contention? Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. Hear it here.
Of course, some might say there’s a little difference between harvesting the family tobacco crop and working at a resort for minimum wage. But hey, those tourist dollars don’t pick themselves. Just ask Brunswick Republican Bonner Stiller, who trotted out those tourism numbers I warned you about.
Smoking redux
House leaders today moved Maj. Leader Hugh Holliman’s anti-smoking bill off tomorrow’s calendar and back to committee, where word is it’ll undergo some major reconstructive surgery.
Private businesses on private property would be exempted from the ban. (So much for that workplace protection argument.) Bars that don’t admit anyone under the age of 21 would also be exempt. No word yet on how much restaurant folks like that one, but smart money says not so much.
On the other hand, the bill would finally give municipal authorities the right to enact more restrictive bans if they want to – a right they don’t have under current state law, which actively prohibits local officials from enacting tighter smoking restrictions than are in place under state law. Yes, you read that right. Welcome to Marlboro Country.
And the winner is….hello? anyone?
So how long DOES it take to count 110 or so ballots? More than 90 minutes, apparently. But the House finally named its nominees to the UNC Board of Governors – highly sought-after positions, by all accounts.
Five out of today’s eight winners are already BOG members who were up for re-election. Three were newbies:
Marshall Pitts, former Fayetteville Mayor
Purnell Swett, former Robeson County School Superintendent, 1977-89
Ronald Leatherwood, currently treasurer of AdvantageWest, the Western NC Regional Econ. Dev.Commission. They could use some good news. Recent Chairman (and former Black lottery commission appointee) Gordon Myers was recently charged with DUI.
Comments? Drop me a line.
