| Frequently
Asked Questions
If you have questions about
any aspect of education, legislation, job-related problems, retirement,
membership, organization, or NCAE, please direct them to the appropriate
person below for the most efficient response.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Please submit
your own
-
ARE TEACHERS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE A DUTY FREE LUNCH IN NORTH CAROLINA?
Here's the law: 115C-301.1. Duty free period.
All full-time assigned classroom teachers shall be provided a daily duty free period during regular student contact hours. The duty free period shall be provided to the maximum extent that (i) the safety and proper supervision of children may allow during regular student contact hours and (ii) insofar as funds are provided for this purpose by the General Assembly. If the safety and supervision of children does not allow a daily duty free period during regular student contact hours for a given teacher, the funds provided by the General Assembly for the duty free period for that teacher shall revert to the general fund. Principals shall not unfairly burden a given teacher by making that teacher give up his or her duty free period on an ongoing, regular basis without the consent of the teacher. (1983, c. 761, s. 88; 1999-163, s. 1.)
-
CAN TEACHERS AND OTHER CERTIFIED (OR EXEMPT) STAFF BE REQUIRED TO WORK A
SIX DAY WEEK?
CERTIFIED OR "EXEMPT" EMPLOYEES:
Currently, the Calendar Law provision [115c-84.2 (3)] states that the only day a certified employee cannot be "required" to work is Sunday. Therefore, the regular workweek can include 6 days. With regard to overtime, teachers are professional employees under the Federal Wage and Hour Laws; therefore, they are exempt from the 40 hour per week rule and the LEA is not required to pay overtime. Before the "Calendar Law Flexibility" change in 1997, Vocational educational teachers were limited to a 5-day workweek.
NON-CERTIFIED OR "NON-EXEMPT" EMPLOYEES:
There is no wage and hour or Department of Labor law that limits how
many days each week a non-certified (non-exempt) employees can be
required to work. However, non-certified staff (Teacher Assistants, Bus
drivers, Secretaries, Cafeteria Workers, Custodians, etc.), cannot be
required to work more than 40 hours a week, without being compensated
time and a half for hours worked over 40. This compensation may be in
the form of salary or compensatory time. This overtime pay is paid in
the next paycheck OR the comp time is taken at some time in the future
with prior approval of the immediate supervisor. School Districts that
require a 6 day week to make up for inclement weather may allow these
employees time off during the same pay period in order to prevent paying
overtime. With regard to time missed due to inclement weather, School
Districts must allow non-certified staff the opportunity to make time up
lost at a mutually agreed upon time between the employee and their
immediate supervisor.
Contact Marge Foreman if you need more information
- I'm one of the ones who got the extra "10" bonus days instead of a salary increase. What does that mean for me?
You may be better off! Here's the explanation
- Tell
me about how I can retire and be re-employed while still drawing retirement.
- Why
does the LEA take so much out of my supplemental pay checks?
- Why is my class size so large when the Governor's Executive Order was intended to reduce class sizes in Kindergarten and First Grades?
See our class size
page.
- Do I have to attend after
school meetings?
Attendance at school meetings
is a required part of a teacher's duty, as long as they are "reasonable."
- Do
I have to administer medication if I am not comfortable with doing that?
- How many clock hours do
we have to work each day?
The local school board has
the authority to set "reasonable hours." Most school systems base a teacher's
work day around a student's day.
- How much money will I
make if I retire now?
Teachers can retire without
a reduction penalty at any age after 30 years of service; or after 25 years
and reached age 60; or at age 65 with five years of service. The amount
of your pension, however, will be different at each stage. Many additional
facts such as salary level will also affect how much retirement income
you will receive. To get an estimate of your retirement income, Estimate
your retirement online .
- I'd like to join NCAE. How
do I become a member?
- How do I get information on NEA Member Benefits?
The NEA Member Benefits
Web Site offers information about the programs and services for NEA
members. NEA members can also e-mail NEA MB Member Services Center at Ask-Us@neamb.com
- How do I change my address?
Send request for address changes to: NCAE Membership,
PO Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611.
- I'm interested in becoming an educator. Where do I
start?
- The National Center for Education
Statistics is another great place to find information that shows the
condition and status of education in the United States.
- I'm searching for an article or reprint from NEA
Today. Where can I find it?
NEA Today
is online and several articles are searchable.
- Where can I get reliable information on today's top
education issues?
You can have information faxed to you free via 1-888/2GETNEA,
NEA's fax-on-demand program. Topics include academic standards, Individuals
with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), classroom management, and National
Board Certification.
- I'd like to communicate with
NEA President Reg Weaver. Does he have an e-mail address?
You can reach Reg Weaver via e-mail at rweaver@nea.org
- I need legal help dealing with my school district.
Can NCAE help me?
You bet. Try this link
- I need an attorney for personal reasons. Can you help me there?
NCAE's Attorney Referral Program (ARP) helps members
find reduced cost legal services. Here's a list
of participating attorneys. |
Ask NCAE
Join NCAE