Teachers sound off on possible loss of funding at HB2 air horn protest

Protests over House Bill 2 continued Wednesday night as critics say the bill could cost the state billions of dollars in education funding.

Posted 1:52 a.m. May 12, 2016 — Updated 3:46 a.m. May 12, 2016

Adam Owens

RALEIGH, N.C. — Protests over House Bill 2 continued Wednesday night as critics say the bill could cost the state billions of dollars in education funding.

Teachers at an air horn protest said those cuts could hit them where it hurts most: in the classroom.

For Durham teachers Alyssa Putt and Millie Rosen, the noise from the air horns outside the Executive Mansion was not only a protest, but a way to blow off steam. They’ve already taken issue with state funding levels for schools and teacher pay.

“Six years of education to make $35,000 a year,” Putt said.

Now federal funding could be at risk in a lawsuit against the state over House Bill 2. Rosen and Putt said the loss of federal funding could disproportionately affect schools like theirs, where students are predominately from poorer homes.

“They will be affected by it. We will have fewer resources for them,” said Rosen. “The level of education we can provide, despite our best efforts, will go down.”

Now that the U.S. Department of Justice and state leaders have traded lawsuits over House Bill 2, the teachers could see the future of their classrooms go to court.

“It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating to be in that kind of system and be a part of it when all you want to do is make your kids’ lives at least a little bit better,” Rosen said.

On Thursday, House leaders are expected to start rolling out their budget plans, including any possible pay increases for teachers and state employees.

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