RALEIGH (WTVD) --
Leaders for Winston/Salem Forsyth County schools were in the hot seat at the General Assembly Wednesday for their ties to NCAE President Rodney Ellis and other NCAE members.Lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations grilled Superintendent Beverly Emory about a school district policy that has allowed Ellis, a teacher in the district for nine years, to take a leave of absence to work at the NC Association of Educators, while growing his retirement benefits within the district.
Ellis has been getting an NCAE paycheck for the past seven years but now has 16 years toward his state retirement.
Conservative lawmakers, led by Sen. Chad Barefoot, also took Emory to task for violating provisions of the school systems bylaws as they relate to the amount of leave Ellis has taken. Barefoot said teachers are only allowed one to two years leave.
Emory said the district would look into lawmakers concerns.
Lawmakers switched flavor of grilling: now hammering school administrators on performance and accountability. #ABC11Eyewitness
— Jon Camp (@JonCampABC11) November 18, 2015
Sen. Rucho asks if state funding can be at risk if local school boards don't comply with state law. Staff doesn't think so. #ABC11Eyewitness
— Jon Camp (@JonCampABC11) November 18, 2015
Rucho: "It would be wise that if Forsyth Co. thinks mediocrity is acceptable, this General Assembly will not allow it." #ABC11Eyewitness
— Jon Camp (@JonCampABC11) November 18, 2015
