The State Board of Education met in Raleigh on Wednesday for the first time since lawmakers announced plans for an average 8% raise in teacher pay. But board members expressed skepticism about whether the proposed increase would make a meaningful difference for teachers.
During a legislative update, board members noted the increase would come after teachers have gone a full year without raises. Board member Alan Duncan said rising living costs and higher health care expenses for state employees have been eating into teacher pay.
“This doesn’t really repair all of that,” Duncan said. “It’s a nice figure to put out there, but when you put it into this full context, teachers are not ahead at the end of the day.”…