Veteran NC teachers could get ‘insultingly low’ $250 raises

North Carolina’s most experienced teachers are expressing frustration that they could receive state raises of as little as $250 over the next two years. Senate and House Republicans are negotiating a deal on a a budget for the next two years, including how much to spend on education and raises for teachers.

The budget adopted by the Senate provides a $200 raise this year and a $50 raise next year for teachers who have more than 15 years of experience. “They don’t want experienced folks to stay,” Kim Mackey, a social studies teacher at Green Hope High School in Cary, said in an interview. “They don’t want to pay us, but many of us love teaching. It’s just the state expects us to make a personal sacrifice to do what we want to do.”

Senate GOP leaders say the state has a greater need attracting and retaining new teachers.