North Carolina Now; Episode from 1999-04-09

It's Friday, April 9th. Tonight, the University conducts a series of town hall meetings in North Carolina now. Hello, welcome to North Carolina now. I'm Marita Matray. Our program tonight has two main focuses, education and politics. We'll check in with our legislative bureau to get an update on this past week's activity of the General Assembly. Plus, we'll hear from the chairman of the low-wealth schools consortium who is urging lawmakers to increase funding for our state's poor school districts. But we start first with a look at how the University of North Carolina is reaching out to the people of the state. In a new effort to increase awareness about UNC's 16 campuses, the University's Board of Governors has issued its first-ever report to the people. The initiative was unveiled last night in Greensboro as John Arnold reports school administrators hope the findings will help them cope with some daunting challenges.

The more than 150,000 students who take classes at one of UNC's 16 campuses likely know well what the university has to offer and what challenges it faces in the coming years. But school administrators and policymakers fear many others living around the state may not be as knowledgeable about their state university. The University of North Carolina, of course, serves all the people of North Carolina and we have a feeling that maybe enough people don't know about all of the wonderful things that we do. Which is why the Board of Governors and University administrators gathered here in Greensboro where President Molly Broad delivered the first-ever UNC report to the people. It's a comprehensive look at the status of the university intended to build public awareness about its role and mission in North Carolina. Board of Governors member Maxino Kelly chaired the committee that compiled the report.

In some of the far reaches, reaching parts of the state, people don't come in contact with the university system as much as those of us who live in Chapel Hill and dorm and rolling. On the other hand, we need to sell the university to children and to parents who are not thinking about education being possible for their students or their children and let them know that it is possible and encourage more people to take advantage of it. Community leaders, educators and parents sat in on the presentation which outlined the university's accomplishments over the past two centuries. It also detailed UNC's three-fold mission, teaching research and public service. Well, not only is the University of North Carolina acknowledged now to be the oldest public university in America, it is also known to be among the very best public universities in the United States. And one of the great strengths of this university can be found in its extraordinary diversity.

I believe that that strength, that diversity in mission and in geography and in constituencies and in service makes us stronger and better university and makes us more able to serve the needs of North Carolina. But that public service doesn't come without some daunting challenges, the biggest of which may be the explosive growth in enrollment predicted over the next decade. University administrators expect an increase of nearly 50,000 students finding resources to accommodate that growth is a major concern and that's not all. The university is also trying to accommodate the booming demand for new teachers. Public and private school enrollment will explode over the next decade and it's estimated the state of North Carolina will need upwards of 80,000 new teachers to handle that increase. That's a number roughly comparable to the total number of teachers in the state today. Yet despite the demand for these and other professional and technical jobs, the number of North Carolinians attaining college degrees is failing to keep pace with national trends.

These graphs that you are about to see show that North Carolina continues to lag behind the national trends in the level of education attainment of our citizens. This is the first UNC report to the people. Others will follow in different parts of the state. Chairman Ben Ruffin initiated the effort. He hopes the message here will filter down to people throughout the state, especially those who may someday be taking classes on one of the university's campuses. We invited people who will lead us in the community and we hope that they all take this information back to let our young people know what's happening in our system and that, you know, look at our system and look at our schools before you decide to go out and stay because you might find for better price. Exactly what you're looking for right in the state of North Carolina. University administrators say their report to the people will be an ongoing project and will be presented to its campuses across the state.

Well, we continue our focus now on education, but this time at the elementary and secondary level, the general assembly is being urged to put more money into a fund designed to increase financial support for low wealth school districts in North Carolina. Currently, 55% of our state students live in the 73 counties defined as low wealth. In 1991, the general assembly started the low wealth schools fund to supplement the resources of our state's poor school districts. The program is now funded at $65 million per year, but according to the consortium full funding requires approximately 110 million. Joining me now is Dr. Jim Cosby. He is the Johnston County School Superintendent and the chairman of the low wealth schools consortium. Dr. Welcome to the program. Let's first start by defining a low wealth school. Exactly. What are we talking about? Well, there are a number of factors that are used to determine low wealth school. Basically, it's a county that has below the state average and per capita income and below the state average and property tax valuation.

Okay. You are the chairman of the Johnston County School District. Tell our viewers a personal story about the challenges you face coming from a low wealth school district. Well, as you said earlier, there are 73 counties that are qualified as low wealth. And in those 73 counties, there's actually 84 school systems because some of the counties also have a city system. The difficulty that most of these counties face is that they just do not have the resources to be able to raise the necessary local money. In North Carolina, somewhere between 20 and 25 percent of most school systems budgets comes from local funds to the county commissioners. And all these counties or counties that the tax base is to the point is it's so low that even though most of those counties have very high tax rates, they cannot generate the kind of dollars that school systems in the triad or the trying gold or the sharpening area that actually are able to generate. And because of that, there's a great difference in the amount of resources per child. One of the last studies by the North Carolina Public School Forum showed that for the 10 wealthiest school systems in North Carolina,

spent about $2,000 per people in local funds, while the 10 lowest low wealth school systems in North Carolina spend just about $700 per people. And you tell real quickly that's $1,300 more per child, and you multiply that with 25 students in classroom, and you have well over $25, close to $30,000. So in order to balance things out a bit, the General Assembly simply set up this fund, but you're saying it's not adequately funded? That's correct. The General Assembly in 1991 established the low wealth fund. At that time, they said, you know, we realize that the way we're funded in North Carolina was such a large percentage of school budgets coming from the local government. And there being such a difference in the taxing authority and taxing ability, fundraising ability of local counties, that we have to in some way try to make up that difference. Now, the fund was never set up to equalize. It's not designed to do that. It's designed to bring what would be the equivalent of the local dollar expenditures up to the state average of local expenditures. So there were still the wealth assistance would still be spending more, but that gap would be closed. The $110 million, which is what the formula that the legislature uses, if it was fully funded, would require.

Right now we're being funded about 65 million, so that still leaves a pretty good gap between where we are and where the formula says we should be. And you have quite a bit of activity going on in the General Assembly this session in an order to increase that funds. Tell our viewers a little bit about what your group is doing. We lobby extensively. We do retain lobbyists and we retain a PR firm that works with us also. But the biggest thing we do is really working at the grassroots level with making local people aware of what's going on and having them really help sell our case with legislators. Already this year we've had 60 school boards in North Carolina adopt resolutions that would ask for full funding of the fund. We've had press conferences dealing with that, and we've getting some very good positive response. Of course it's early add in the legislative session, so we'll have to wait and say when budget begins to develop where we stand. And this is a tight budget year, but you're optimistic that this might be the year that you get an increase in the funds going into the low well schools fund.

Yes, it is a tight year for funds. We're aware of that. But we believe that especially with the Leandro case, which deals with low well funding school systems going through the courts right now. It's a really opportune time for the legislators to show their commitment to erasing the gap that exists between low well school systems and the wealthier school systems. It's important to talk a little bit more about that court case, and I don't mean to interrupt, but to get a handle about what we're talking about. This is a lawsuit that the low well schools have filed, and then some wealthier school districts also joined this suit. And it's basically to do what changed the way we currently fund. Yes, correct your first statement. The low well school consortium did not file the lawsuit. It's actually five by five counties. I don't remember all of them, but there's five of them. And we have been a part of, we've had funding on some some degrees on that. And then later as you said, the larger systems, especially the ones in Nashville, Charlotte, those systems joined also in a suit.

And basically what it says is that the way North Carolina funds public schools is not adequate, it's not equitable for every student. That case is when all the way to the Supreme Court as to whether or not it could actually be tried. And the Supreme Court ruled that yes indeed such a suit could come before the courts and that every child in North Carolina is entitled to a sound basic education. So the Supreme Court has already said that and they've demanded a trial back to the district court. And it will be decided now as to whether that's being done or not. We contend in the five counties who are also contend that it's not an equitable education and not providing enough dollars for sound basic education everywhere in North Carolina. Dr. Cosby, unfortunately we're out of time, but I would like to have you come back to talk about this lawsuit further as it continues to progress through the courts. Thanks for your time tonight. Thank you. Addressing the funding needs of our state's low wealth schools is just one of the many issues facing our lawmakers and fact activity at the General Assembly this week seems to have been particularly busy. So to get caught up on what's been taking place at our state Capitol, we check in with legislative correspondent John Basin. Hello, John.

Hi, Marita. Let's stay with this topic of the low wealth schools for just a moment longer. This is an issue that continues to challenge lawmakers. Marita, it does continue to challenge them and it has for quite a while. As you know, this lawsuit has been ongoing for a while. There may be some movement on it soon, but it's a tight budget year lawmakers need to carve out some money for it. They have indeed in the past. They have a special low wealth schools fund that they have been funding for quite a while and they'll probably continue to do that, but there may be movement on this lawsuit soon. And once again, this is a situation where the General Assembly is sort of having to wait for the court to decide what's going to happen and to some extent how much money will be spent. But the low wealth schools issue will not go away. It's been an issue in other states as you've heard and it continues to remain on the horizon here in North Carolina. The seatbelt legislation is something that has been in the news a great deal lately, and I understand it was got into a bit of trouble earlier this week. It did, Marita. It came to the House floor with the approval of a committee, but when it got to the House floor, some members pulled out the long knives. They either didn't like the bill themselves or some said that they had heard negative comments from constituents. This bill would require all passengers, including adults to be buckled up even in the back seat. It also would have assigned to driver's license points, which are different from insurance points to those caught in violation of the bill.

That provision was stripped out when it got to the floor. The driver's license points were removed, but even then bill opponents seemed to have the long knives out for it and want to take the bill down. The vote on the driver's license point amendment was so lopsided that bill supporters realized they were in trouble and they themselves moved to take the bill off of the calendar, send it back to committee, strip it down a little bit, and they hope to bring a bill back to the floor. The proponents of that legislation, what are they hoping to maintain in that legislation when they do bring it back? They say the most important part of the legislation is the part that changes the child's safety seats. I think they're raising the age to five and the weight to 40 pounds. That is, children should stay in the child's safety seats until they're five or at least 40 pounds. And it also requires that those children be strapped into the back seat. And the whole idea there is to keep the kids away, both those in safety seats and the youngsters away from the front seat airbags, which can be deadly, even in low-speed accidents to children because of the way it hits them and the way they sit in the front seat. And the bill requiring insurance companies to pay for contraceptives also is in a bit of jeopardy.

Maria, that one also came to the House floor. That bill is expected to pass pretty much as it is, but there was some concern that it hadn't gone through the right committees. It had been thoroughly debated in a House Health Committee, but there's also a House Insurance Committee. And some folks said it should go to that Insurance Committee, and indeed that's what happened. It was pulled from the floor and sent to that committee where it will be tinkered with a little bit more. But the general thinking is that that bill, which requires insurance companies that provide any prescription coverage to provide coverage for contraceptives, the general thinking is that bill probably will become law eventually. Let's talk a little bit about the gubernatorial election. What's the talk down there about Chuck Naley, resigning to run for governor? Well, it was a surprise, Maria. Everyone knew that he was considering running for governor, but I suppose only the folks in his inner circle knew that he was considering stepping down from the legislature in order to do that. He announced that this week, and he joins a minority leader Leo Doctrie also in the House here and former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroute in seeking the GOP nomination to be governor in 2000. John, thanks so much for the information. Have a great weekend.

Thank you, Maria. And want to remind the viewers that they can tune in tonight at 10 o'clock or catch our Sunday repeat at 1 p.m. for legislative weekend review and hear more about these issues. Another important issue facing lawmakers and citizens alike is air pollution. And a program targeting nine North Carolina counties, the division of motor vehicles is cracking down on drivers who let their emissions inspection stickers expire. Tonight, Sony Williams takes a closer look at the DMV's new program called registration denial and what it means for both drivers and inspectors. As cars zoom down the busy streets of Raleigh, their inspection stickers are nothing more than a colored blur. But unlike on the roadways, these stickers and the information they carry are clearest day at the division of motor vehicles. Well, over the last two years, we've been working very hard at putting a new computer system together, and we're not able to track those vehicles that have not come in compliance with your inspection. That's right. Chances are if you live in one of the nine counties that require emissions inspections and are overdue for yours, the DMV knows. Now they're letting you know.

Registration denial is part of the Federal Clean Air Act of 1990, and it requires North Carolina to find violators and block their vehicle registrations. Crastinating drivers have 120 days from the expiration date to comply or face a fine of up to $250. One of the most important things about it is clean air. We need clean air for you, myself, our children, and for years to come. So the program is about keeping air clean. The program is also about keeping federal dollars. If the state does not comply with the Federal Clean Air Act, North Carolina could lose millions of federal dollars for highway initiatives. So with the federal mandate and concern for the environment as driving forces, the DMV is linking inspection stations in all nine counties through a computer system. The state system tracks every vehicle to give both the DMV and the inspector's valuable information.

As for a valid registration, it can't always tell if it's valid, forage and registrations. So we put it in the computer Venn number, and the license plate. The computer will dial to the state, and it'll give us the information on the vehicle, whether that license plate is valid to that vehicle. That gives us that it's all valid and ready to go. And then when we do the inspection, when we're all finished, it dials back to the state and makes them aware whether the vehicle has passed inspection or not. Some inspectors say this high-tech efficiency comes with a hefty price, especially for the station owners who must either convert to the state's computer system or shut down their business. It's going to cost me $600 per software. I have two machines. It's going to cost me $600 to do for the new software. And then I had to get dedication phone lines. That cost me almost $2,000 that I had to spend out of my own pocket. But DMV officials say that's the price of doing business. It also costs inspectors $1.30 to call the state's computer system during each inspection.

The DMV is putting that bill for the first year. But after that, each station is on its own an idea that worries some inspectors. I think that I'll raise the price on the safeties and the missions, at least $10 more that will cover our expenses. This program will work because if the state will just work with us on it, well, our demands are that we need more money to help run this program. It's not fair for a man marrying four kids, you know, trying to provide everything you can. And it just keeps costing me more money. Money, Tom Errington says, he's already losing by doing just safety inspections on cars, registered in counties that do not require the emissions test. It's $9.25, $9.25 for a non-emission control county. And it's 1940 for the mission control counties. I'm doing the base of the same thing on a Johnson County car as I would await county cars.

Except I do not do a mission test on the Johnson County cars. Errington says at least 20% of his business comes from other counties. And he believes that if the state is serious about cleaning the air, the emissions inspection should be required in all counties. At least 30, 40% of the people in the downtown Raleigh area that works in the downtown area are from a non-emission control county. I think it's totally unfair for us to be doing the mission controls, try to keep the clean air up for the standards for the state of North Carolina. And you still got cars that run around here polluting the air from other counties. The Environmental Protection Agency and the State Division of Air Quality determined where emissions tests are performed. The program could be expanded over the next few years, but in the meantime, registration denial will be in full effect. And if you live in one of the nine counties that require emissions test, remember to get your car inspected on time, or the DMV will remind you.

Since the DMV began mailing expiration notices about 500 of them have been received by motorists who have already had their cars inspected. DMV officials say that if you do receive a notice in error, you can simply clear it up by going to your local DMV Enforcement Office with a receipt from your inspection station. Well, now let's get caught up on today's statewide headlines by turning to Mitchell Lois. Good evening, Mitch. Thanks, Maria. Good evening, everyone. North Carolina taxpayers may have to pay the majority of the cost of doing the way with hog wastelagoons. The 100 administration is planning a massive 10-year phase out plan that could cost upwards of $400 million. Governor Hunt says because hog farmers can't pay for all the upgrades, the public will have to help out a lot. An attorney with the North Carolina Environmental Defense Fund says while farmers may not be able to foot the entire bill, the large companies that own many of the hogs can afford the cost. North Carolinians will begin seeing a series of national anti-smoking ads doctored to omit an anti-smoking message.

The complete version of the ads, which were won in 17 states and the District of Columbia, depict children and display the slogan, it's time we made smoking history. The North Carolina ads will not include the suggestive wording. A spokesperson for Governor Hunt says the governor feels the billboards are effective without the slogan. The American Lung Association of North Carolina, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society are refusing to put their logos on the edited ads. A pair of new chancellors have been elected to head up UNC Asheville and UNC Pembroke. The UNC Board of Governors are tapping 41-year-old Dr. James H. Mullin to succeed outgoing Chancellor Patsy Reed. Mullin will leave his post of Senior Vice President with Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut to take over UNC Asheville in August. Placing Chancellor Dr. Joseph Oxandine at UNC Pembroke will be 51-year-old Dr. Alan C. Meadows. Meadows currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Dean at Penn State University at Altoona, Pennsylvania. Meadows will assume the post of Chancellor at UNC Pembroke on July 1st.

The state government news service will soon begin offering live audio coverage of House and Senate action in the General Assembly online. The Internet service will go online beginning Monday and will allow web surfers to monitor floor action as it's happening. The state government news service is making coverage available to the general public during a brief test period. After that, the service will be restricted to subscribers. The address for the service is www.ncnciter.com Looking ahead to tomorrow's weekend weather, temperatures around the state will range from the mid-60s and some mountain areas to around 80 and Charlotte endpoints along the coast. Partly sunny skies are forecast for most of the state, cloudy skies and showers are a possibility in some western areas. In business news, state officials have come up with an investment plan designed to generate funds for rural natural gas projects. The state plans to sell off $200 million in bonds to raise capital for the gas pipelines. It's hoped the pipeline construction will spur further economic development and a number of underdeveloped rural areas around the state. The bonds are expected to be available later this year. And now for a look at what happened on Wall Street today.

Music Music And that wraps up North Carolina now for the week. We'll see you on Monday. Good night. Music