The “recurring nonsense” appropriations for K-12 education:
– $200,000 R for JOBS Commission Schools – This expenditure, if necessary, can be delayed indefinitely or funded via private sources that stand to benefit from the commission. The JOBS Commission is Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton’s pet project, so it won’t go gentle into that good night.
– $100,000 R for NC Science, Math, and Technical Education Center ? Encourage private industry to support science competitions. I have a more desperate idea. Ask technology companies that receive economic incentives from the state to fund these kinds of programs.
– $50,000 R for Kids Voting ? Why does this organization, which receives pass-through dollars, deserve special recurring funding?
– $26,244 R for Diversity in Public Schools Commission ? this commission has two goals: 1) attack the Wake County School Board majority, and 2) attack charter schools. How about a Student Achievement in Public Schools Commission? That is a novel idea.
Additional recommendation: Halt the expansion of Learn and Earn schools now, even schools that received a planning allotment. The $306,000 reduction in the program is peanuts. I believe the JOBS Commission Report will recommend expanding the Learn and Earn program, so I would be surprised if the GA approves any further reductions.
