When McCrory was elected as governor, I was optimistic about the future. Anybody who has even heard of me knows that I am a Democrat. But, McCrory had a good business background and a fine reputation as Mayor of Charlotte.

Under his administration with the present legislature, N.C. started the community college system and has been proud of its success in providing two years of affordable college training as well as in training machinists, electricians, health care workers, etc.

Other states visited N.C. to learn about our program. The budget has been harmfully cut.

The University of North Carolina has been considered by many to be the finest public university in the country. The university’s budget has been cut drastically to the extent that whole programs have had to be eliminated. The big criticism of UNC is that it is so hard to get in!

Worst of all is the status of public schools. We rank in the lowest few states in the nation in per pupil expenditures and teacher pay. Ask Superintendent Bill Miller about how hard it is to keep teachers when they can go across the line into SC and make as much as $10,000 per year more money.

A few years ago the legislature gave a good raise to beginning teachers- not a bad idea to entice top students to become teachers.

Experienced teachers have not had even a cost of living raise in several years. Also, there has been discussion about cutting medical coverage. Benefits such as retirement and medical coverage have been the main financial rewards for teachers.

Teachers have never chosen their careers because of the money, but they would like (and need) to make a living at least. I thoroughly enjoyed my 40 years of teaching and found it rewarding.

Companies at one time located in N.C. because of the good schools. Because of our children, we want to reclaim that reputation.

Governor McCrory has recently proposed a pay raise for teachers. We hope it works out.

– Sally Jo Carter, Tryon