May 1 teacher rally: Who, where, when, why

Raleigh parks, YMCA offer child care to families during May 1 teacher protest

The N.C. Association of Educators is organizing the rally, which is expected to draw thousands of educators, school staff and supporters. Last May, 42 of the state's 115 school systems closed for a teacher rally, which drew about 20,000 people. This year, at least 32 school systems and four charter schools have announced they are closing.

According to the NCAE, there are are six major components to the day – arrivals, pre-march gathering, the march, the rally, legislative meetings, and the departure.

There are two primary means of arrival: bus and car. Those driving by car should arrive as early as possible in order to secure parking at the various parking garages around the downtown area. While all of the garages have been advised of the event, some may be at capacity. There will be no parking on NCAE property on May 1 so that they can accommodate all the foot traffic.

Buses should arrive at NCAE, 700 South Salisbury St. in Raleigh, at 8:30 a.m. Buses will arrive via northbound (inbound) McDowell Street, turn left onto South Street, and line up on the curb adjacent to the NCAE Headquarters building on South St. to unload. They will then be routed to the offsite parking location (Walnut Creek Amphitheater), the same place buses parked last year.

NCAE is holding a pre-march rally on the grounds of its headquarters at 700 South Salisbury St. in Raleigh.

Educators and supporters plan to march from NCAE HQ and down Fayetteville Street. Marchers will then proceed to the inner sidewalks at the State Capitol Building, down Bicentennial Plaza to the Legislative Building. They will then walk around the Legislative Building, across the pedestrian bridge, and onto Halifax Mall. The group will have a police escort and roads will be closed. A handicap-accessible shuttle will assist in transit to the rally venue, but some walking will still be involved.

Unlike last year, NCAE plans to begin speeches shortly after arriving at Halifax Mall at the State Capitol. They have not finalized the speaker list, but speeches are expected to run about an hour total. NCAE will have water available, but those who need anything beyond that, such as a chair or food for lunch, should bring it along.

NCAE is organizing county delegation meetings for members to connect with their legislators.

Those who arrive by bus should plan to meet back at NCAE HQ at 3:30 p.m. to board their bus home. Keep in mind it takes approximately 20-30 minutes to walk back to NCAE from the rally location.

NCAE says the rally will be held rain or shine. The latest forecast for Raleigh shows May 1 will be partly cloudy and very warm with highs in the mid to upper 80s. NCAE plans to provide water but not food.

NC educators' demands: What they want and how lawmakers have responded

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger has blasted the NCAE as a "far-left" group that "is calling on teachers to strike despite historic increases in teacher pay and education spending under Republican leadership."

The "strike will keep kids out of the classroom and force parents to find childcare," Berger said in a statement. "Despite the fact that Medicaid already covers every child with a family income up to 138% of the federal poverty line, the NCAE is pushing teachers to strike over Obamacare Medicaid expansion, which has nothing to do with education."

"NCAE has changed the goalposts year after year on what its priorities are, but its primary mission has remained the same: to mislead the public into thinking Republicans are bad for education," Berger added.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson has pleaded with teachers to stay in the classroom on May 1 instead of attending the rally so students don't miss any instruction.

"I personally hope that teachers do not come on May 1 because we’ve had such a hard year this year with hurricanes and bad winter weather," Johnson told WRAL News. "I just ask that teachers will consider coming perhaps on a day that doesn’t interfere with instruction. But also, importantly, we have certain school employees who won’t get paid if they don’t work, such as school bus drivers."

Johnson asked teachers to consider taking action on a day when schools are not in session.

"I ask that teachers come over spring break and meet with me, meet with their lawmakers. Let’s have productive conversations," he said. "But again, this doesn’t mean we don’t support teachers, we just have to ultimately realize that a lot of consequences happen if we ask for a day off of school."