The front lawn of the North Carolina Legislative Building in downtown Raleigh on May 1 was filled with the voices of frustrated educators and their supporters.
The North Carolina Association of Educators held a rally at Halifax Mall, bringing together representatives from 18 school districts across the state, including Alamance County. Attendees said they came to advocate for increased funding for public schools and to push lawmakers to pass a long-delayed state budget.
The state has been operating without a new budget for months because of disagreements between chambers, not parties. In a letter from Gov. Josh Stein to the North Carolina House of Representatives, he said teachers and other state employees are struggling to pay bills as the lack of budget means little funding for the schools.
“Part of our job description is to advocate for our kids and to advocate for public schools,” said Bryan Proffitt, vice president of the NCAE. “There’s nobody who works harder for our kids than public school educators.”
The rally began with speeches at the main stage on Halifax Mall, followed by a march through downtown Raleigh. The event concluded with closing remarks and a performance by Petey Pablo.
“The lack of leadership and the lack of public school funding in North Carolina is unacceptable,” said Tabitha Boswell, vice president of Alamance-Burlington Association of Educators. “They should be embarrassed.”
The demonstration comes at a politically charged time, with elections approaching.
“I really hope people take the frustration to the polls in November,” Boswell said.
Several public figures attended the rally, including Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, who is running for state Senate as part of North Carolina’s District 26, after beating Phil Berger in the primary, and Richard Ojeda, a Democratic candidate running in Alamance County for United States Congress.
“It’s about the children and the future of our state of North Carolina and our country,” Page said in an interview with ENN. “So the better we can educate our kids, the broader our future.”
Page also emphasized the importance of passing a state budget on time and increasing teacher pay. Many educators at the rally said funding shortages directly affect their classrooms, with some teachers paying out of pocket for supplies.
“We pay doctors and lawyers millions of dollars, but you can’t create a doctor or lawyer without a teacher,” Ojeda said in an interview with ENN. “But we pay teachers poverty wages and school service personnel practically nothing.”
The rally also comes amid ongoing debates about school vouchers and funding priorities in North Carolina, with educators arguing that public schools are being left behind.
As the event concluded, organizers urged continued action beyond the rally. Educators said they plan to continue contacting legislators and organizing at the local level, including upcoming meetings of the Alamance-Burlington Association of Educators.
“Do your job,” Boswell said. “I’ll do mine. You do yours. Pass a budget.”