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.

   Comments (11)

The N.C. Assocation of Educators hired a former aide to Gov. Mike Easley as its executive director.

Scott Anderson, who went to work for the National Education Association after he left Easley's office, was caught up in the lottery scandal and former lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings 2006 fraud trial, Lynn Bonner reports.

Sheri Strickland, NCAE president, said she thoroughly checked into Anderson's involvement with Geddings and the lottery and shared everything she found with the NCAE search committee.

"The legal and ethical implications were vetted through NEA at the time," Strickland said, and she found nothing about Anderson's involvement that would disqualify him from holding the NCAE job.

NCAE had 166 applications for the job, Strickland said, and Anderson stood out for his knowledge of the state and his work for Easley.  NCAE signed Anderson to a two-year contract. He started work March 1.

More after the jump.

   Comments (3)

The N.C. Association of Educators will not be sending other mailers attacking Richard Moore.

Vice President Sheri Strickland told Dome that a recent mailer sent to 10,000 retired educators was prepared before Beverly Perdue pledged to run a positive campaign. She did not know exactly when it was mailed, but said it was sent by the National Education Association.

She admitted the mailer was negative, but said she did not think it would normally be a problem.

"I think it still is in line," she said. "The intent was to provide factual information to our retirees about the handling of the pension fund because certainly that is of great importance to our members."

She said two other mailers would have followed, one giving more information on Moore and another talking about the association's endorsement of Perdue, but both have since been pulled and will be replaced with new ones.

"We are complying with her wishes to have a positive campaign, both at the state and at the national level," she said.

She said she has heard anecdotal reports that NCAE members approve of the pledge.

The N.C. Association of Educators has endorsed three candidates.

The educator's group announced that it is endorsing state Sen. Kay Hagan for the U.S. Senate, NCAE president Eddie Davis for superintendent of public instruction and Buncombe County commissioner David Young for state treasurer.

In a press release, the group praised Hagan's opposition to school vouchers and efforts to close the minority achievement gap in the Senate; Davis' work to improve teaching conditions and increase salaries; and Young's work as head of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners.

"Our nearly 70,000 members will work hard this election season to help each of these pro-public education candidates get into office," said Vice President Sheri Strickland.