The state's teacher lobby seems to be leaning one way on who it supports to replace Senate majority leader Tony Rand.

But the lobby isn't taking any chances on backing the wrong candidate, either.

In an e-mail to members, the N.C. Association of Educators says that Sen. Martin Nesbitt has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Rand in the second-in-command position within the chamber. The headline on its Nesbitt brief reads, "K-12 Champion Vies for Senate Majority Leader."

Sen. Nesbitt's success comes as no surprise to Buncombe County Association of Educators President Anna Austin, who lunches with the mountain senator regularly. "Sen. Nesbitt checks in with me every week during session and its not surprising to watch issues we bounce around at a lunch table in Ashevillle make it into state law," she said.   

The next item is about Sen. Dan Clodfelter and is written under the decidedly more staid headline: "Charlotte Democrat Eyes Leadership Post." 

The write-up is positive on Clodfelter.

We have immense respect for Sen. Clodfelter, especially his support for public education and a modernized tax structure," said NCAE Vice President Rodney Ellis.  "As educators, we also admire Sen. Clodfelter's  incredible intellect.  He is a strong leader and whatever happens within the caucus, we hope that Sen. Clodfelter continues to lead on tax reform."    

* A black or Native American child visiting the state Capitol on a school field trip can wander among the statues, monuments and plaques without seeing an image of someone of the same skin color.

Eddie Davis, a former teacher and former head of the state's largest teachers union, calls it "segregated history in the 21st century." He is proposing that the state Capitol in downtown Raleigh, built with the help of slave labor, reflect and represent all of its people, including those who aren't white, about a quarter to one-third of the population.

He asked members of the state Historical Commission last week to add a "Hall of Inclusion" on the second floor of the Capitol, with plaques recognizing historical contributions by racial and ethnic minorities. (N&O)

* Jam-packed Wake County classrooms with up to 40 or more students have sparked a blame game between leaders of North Carolina's largest school district and state officials and educators.

* As a result of tough-on-crime sentencing laws approved by legislators 15 years ago, North Carolina's inmate population is booming and will soon outpace the number of prison beds.

Despite this, the state budget signed by Perdue this month orders seven small prisons closed, eliminates 972 corrections jobs and cuts programs aimed at keeping juvenile offenders from becoming hardened criminals.

Administrators say the state Department of Correction can safely absorb the cuts in the short-term by increasing the number of inmates at other facilities. But judges, legislators and others with a stake in the criminal justice system worry that the growth, if unchecked, will soon result in prisons so crowded as to be unsafe for inmates and staff. (N&O)

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: House and Senate Democrats adopted a $19 billion state budget. Only a few were willing to admit they were happy about the spending plan. The state's teacher lobby claimed a victory because it figured it could convince all of the state's school districts to keep all teacher jobs intact. Republicans were probably just a little happy that Democrats approved a $990 million tax increase (Can anyone say "Campaign issue?") North Carolina was probably happy to leave Connecticut and Pennsylvania as the only two states who haven't yet adopted a budget.

BABY PICTURES: John Edwards' ex-mistress, Rielle Hunter, had a family photo shoot scheduled in Raleigh on Thursday. Technically, it was a grand jury appearance, but Hunter brought her child along presumably because she couldn't find a sitter. The baby's father, whoever that may be, must not have been available.

GET OUT OF HERE: The Senate decided it had enough this week. The House wasn't ready to call it a session. In the last full week of legislating, lawmakers took key votes on a death penalty bill, a ban on a hallucinogenic herb and the Beach Plan.

The state's teacher lobby is planning to work district by district to keep state-mandated education cuts from increasing class size, a move which would result in the loss of teacher jobs.

The budget adopted by the House and Senate on Wednesday prohibits any changes to class size in grades K-3. It orders local school officials across the state to cut a total of $225 million. School officials are urged by the budget to move money around and use federal stimulus dollars to avoid harming classroom instruction.

The N.C. Association of Educators told members in an e-mail message that it believes no teacher jobs should be cut. A second message offered the organization's help to ensure jobs are preserved. That help could be through advice, or political pressure.

NCAE Vice President Rodney Ellis spoke to local leaders over the last two days and he is confidant that federal reporting guidelines, State Board rulemaking and NCAE's efforts to assist locals will preserve classroom resources for students.

"Nothing is more important to our success at the local level than getting members engaged in school board decisions and county commission budgets," Ellis said. "We have a budget that helps us, a federal government that is looking closely at local spending, but we must have a strong local membership willing to speak up."

Some school administrators have said they are reluctant to hire teachers based on federal dollars that aren't yet in hand.

NCAE says there are plenty of funds that have already been delivered and taht they've already been able to help school districts find cuts without sacrificing jobs. 

Update: Post includes fuller description of NCAE's position. 

The state's teacher lobby is claiming victory in the budget battle. In an e-mail message to members, the N.C. Association of Educators praised the current budget plan, which they said protected K-12 classrooms.

In a bold move by a first-term governor and General Assembly facing an economic downturn unseen since the Great Depression, class size in all grades are protected from increases in the 2009-2010 budget bill being considered this evening by the General Assembly.

Under the final version of the budget released publicly this morning, thousands of teachers, teacher assistants and support personnel are expected to return to work for the 2009-2010 school year. (Early media reports that class size was only protected in grades K-3 were based on an earlier version of the budget that is not under consideration today by the General Assembly.)

Uh, which budget are you reading, NCAE?

From the budget the legislature approved Tuesday:

"Local school administrative units shall have the maximum flexibility to use allotted teacher positions to maximize student achievement in grades 4-12. Allocation requirements in grades K-3 shall remain unchanged."

Here's what that means: Local school boards will be cut a total of $225 million. The state will allow local officials to move money around and best decide how to make those cuts while protecting the classroom.

But $225 million is a big hit. Rep. Ray Rapp, a Mars Hill Democrat and education co-chairman told the House Tuesday, that despite the flexibility granted to school officials in the budget, some class sizes will increase.

"There will have to be probably some expansion of classroom sizes in grades four to 12," Rapp said.

More after the jump.

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State budget writers and representatives of the N.C. Association of Educators exchanged some cross words over the budget and the ed reps' claim that the Senate side is favoring state universities over K-12 classrooms.

The dust up exposed a rift between top Democrats in the legislature and an association that has a history of strong support for the party's candidates, Lynn Bonner reports.

The fight comes at a point in the budget wrangling where key members from each chamber are trying to agree on a budget and a tax package.

NCAE published an "Action Alert" says that Senate budget writers were ready to shortchange K-12 education while supporting public and private universities.

The legislative update quoted president Sheri Strickland saying, "They spend the fall telling the public that Democrats are to be trusted to protect public education. They even come to our headquarters trolling for money and with a straight face talk about the Democratic platform of protecting and professionalizing public education. All the while they are plotting and planning how to gut the classroom in favor of more bureaucracy and unaccountability."

Senators are not happy after the jump.

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Donald Barringer, a former third grade teacher at Pearsontown Elementary School in Durham, is Gov. Beverly Perdue's new teacher adviser.

Barringer taught at Pearsontown for seven years and was an adjunct instructor at N.C. Central University, said Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson. He is also the president of the N.C. Association of Educators' Durham affiliate, Lynn Bonner reports.

He replaces Ann McArthur, who was former Gov. Mike Easley's teacher adviser.

Barringer will be part of Perdue's education team and someone who will be "her voice in the community," Pearson said.

Update: Barringer started as Perdue's teacher adviser a few weeks ago. He makes $52,000 a year.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misspelled Barringer's name. 

The plaza in front of the Legislative Building echoed Tuesday morning with a rarely heard cry: Raise our taxes, please.

More than 100 leaders and supporters of nonprofits, service organizations and professional associations warned of the likely damage from the sort of budget cuts being discussed by lawmakers. Many of the groups rely on state government for at least a portion of their funding or for their members' salaries.

"It's about preserving the public investments that keep our communities safe," said Kelvin Spragley, associate executive director of the N.C. Association of Educators.

Speakers at the rally cautioned that a recession is when North Carolinians turn to the government for help, such as a community college course to train for finding a new job or support programs, such as child care, that enable them to keep their jobs.

Francis DeLuca, executive director of the conservative Civitas Institute, said prioritizing spending is the answer, not taxes.

"North Carolinians as a whole are suffering," DeLuca said, "and don't want their taxes raised."

Teachers have more than year-end tests to worry about this month. They've been asked to get to take their battle stations.

The N.C. Association of Educators has launched an effort to prevent cuts to the state education budget and convince legislators to raise taxes, Lynn Bonner reports.

A memo posted on the organization's web site cuts to the chase. "We're at war," says the title.

The state budget has the potential to cut more than 10,000 education jobs, by NCAE's count, and cut pay for nearly everyone else if legislators decide to cut days out of the school year.

Among other strategies, the head office wants local NCAE members to call an emergency meeting with legislators from their region, especially House members.

"This delegation will be briefed on the effect of the House's draconian cuts to public education and the necessity for increasing revenue," says the war plan.

Read more about how NCAE plans to shape public opinion here.

Legislators are considering letting school out five days earlier.

Facing a budget crisis, lawmakers are considering cutting the 2009-2010 school year off early and employing fewer assistant principals, teaching assistants and social workers.

A slightly shorter school year would save $100 million. Teachers and other staffers would be furloughed, saving more money.

Rep. Rick Glazier, one of the education budget writers, said the days would come at the end of the year, when students aren't learning as much.

The plan had education lobbyists angry and didn't over well in local district.

The N.C. Association of Educators called it "dangerous and draconian." (N&O)