The fact our state does not have a uniform system of background checks is just 1 aspect of the problem NC has with teachers being arrested for sexual contact with students. wect.com/2019/08/19/sti… #nced#ncga #THREAD
For years I've tracked teacher arrests at a national level, but then with a focusing on NC. Some arrests are for drugs, DWI or other reasons, but the vast majority are for sexual offenses with kids. I've called this activity the #QuietEpidemic
I tracked NC arrests reported by media and through tips sent to me by law enforcement.
2016 34 arrests
2017 55 arrests
2018 41 arrests
2019 39 arrests (So far.) #nced#ncga
One offender I tracked is Michael Kelly who taught in New Hanover Public Schools. He recently plead guilty to 59 charges that span over a decade of victims. The SBI is investigating the district.
Another is Charles Naaz, a former CMS teacher who held 'tutoring sessions' at his home where he engaged in sexual activity with minor students.
Naas was eventually convicted. ladyliberty1885.com/tag/charles-ra… #nced#ncga
In 2017, Robert Woodard was a teacher in Chatham charged with
8 felony counts of indecent liberties with a student, 7 felony counts of first-degree sexual offense of a child 15 years of age or younger, 18 felony counts of felony sex act with a student. #nced#ncga
Woodard was eventually convicted on all counts.
He had passed a background check.
Background checks need to be repeated often & fingerprinting is essential for state-to-state sharing of records. Currently, there is no national system or database for these offenses. #ncga#nced
Loopholes and deals w/ other agencies have kept some offenses off the police radar. Law enforcement is not required to report educator arrests to any state agency.
Serial offenders can operate for years as New Hanover's Michael Kelly did.
The Districts often protect themselves by 'passing the trash' - they shuffle problem teachers to other schools or districts.
All of this is known to certain legislators. #nced#ncga
A colleague and I created a legislative proposal on the issue of teacher crime that included fingerprinting, peer training, a unified, statewide background check system, an interagency reporting system, a tip line and transparency for the public.
Sources told me that the licensure list has not been updated because of Supt. Johnson, who is allegedly sitting on dozens of licensure case files but has apparently refused to execute them.
Inquiries to DPI on that matter have not been responded to. #nced#ncga
Meanwhile, NC school children continue to be prayed on.
Here are the most recent cases -- two teach
Breaking: NC Supreme Court's Dem majority is forcing the Leandro fund transfer & sending it back to the trial court to determine the calculation.
Newby, Berger & Barringer dissent. appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=1&… #nced#ncpol#ncga
Berger's dissent reiterates the legislature, not the court, has the power of the purse.
He also notes "the majority takes it upon itself to resolve issues in this case without notice and in the face of this Court’s order to the contrary"
Just cycled through the channels. No major network appears to be televising the president's speech.
Most outlets have it streaming on their websites, however.
Maybe it was a space issue. This is the shot from the back after the speech ended.
Gov. Ops subcommittee on hurricanes should be back sometime after 12:30 from recess.
Documents & link to hear/watch the hearing here: ncleg.gov/Committees/Com…
I'll be tweeting some, but probably not as much as the first half:
The Gov Ops Hurricane Subcommittee start is running behind. Here is the agenda & links to documents/audio & video stream: ncleg.gov/Committees/Com…
Tweets to follow. #ncpol#ncga
The meeting is coming to order now. Administrative issues are being dispensed with before proceeding.
First on the agenda is testimony from Richard Trumper, Office of State Budget and Management Disaster Recovery.
Sen. Brent Jackson is giving some opening remarks, listing the damage statistics, relief funding etc. from hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
Talks about the people whose lives are still not whole and "recovery efforts have failed them..." for some it's been six years.
Tomorrow at 9 am, the subcommittee on hurricane recovery is meeting.
Documents for the meeting are here: ncleg.gov/Committees/Com…
Of note, sometime between 2017/18 and now, the contractor for CDBG-DR management was changed.
There are issues with that.
/more #ncpol#ncga
In 2018, a company called IEM was selected " to assist in the administration of the 8-step process needed to complete the CDBG-DR program." ncdps.gov/news/press-rel…
WBTV 2018
"documents also show that after the evaluation committee made its recommendation, officials at NCEM drafted a new recommendation memo and created a paper trail to make it look as though the memo came from members of the evaluation committee." wbtv.com/story/38766910…