Receive the Morning News Briefs to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign up.
Guilford County Schools Budget Includes Raises For Staff
The Guilford County Board of Education has approved a budget for the 2019-20 school year.
According to a press release, the budget passed Tuesday night includes $3.7 million that will go towards salary increases for principals, assistant principals, and teachers. Roughly $1.6 million will be earmarked for raises for non-certified employees.
Separate raises will be allotted for school nutrition workers and after-hours care staff. A planned salary increase for bus drivers will be addressed at the next board meeting in January.
Greensboro City Council Approves Mental Health Assistance Program
A program to help city employees better interact with residents experiencing mental health issues is moving forward. The Greensboro City Council voted 8 to 1 to approve the Behavioral Health Response program at Tuesday's meeting.
The program will allow city staffers to call on a mental-health response team during crises. Dispatched certified counselors will then assess the situation and offer recommendations.
City Councilwoman Michelle Kennedy says the idea was sparked by the 2018 death of Marcus Smith, who died in Greensboro police custody after experiencing what appeared to be a mental health episode.
The initiative was specifically designed to be available to all city employees, not just the police. Kennedy says that's because many staffers regularly interact with the public.
The program is set to officially launch early next year.
Emails: NAACP Leader Chided Women Who Made Harassment Claim
Emails and recordings obtained by The Associated Press show that the NAACP's national president chastised women who went public with a sexual harassment claim. The records also show that President Derrick Johnson was reluctant to swiftly deal with accusations against a former North Carolina officer in the civil rights organization.
Johnson spoke in early October at the North Carolina state convention, less than two weeks after Jazmyne Childs said at a news conference that she had been sexually harassed in 2017. Some women who attended say the comments are indicative of the NAACP's misogynistic culture.
Johnson and an NAACP spokesperson didn't respond to emails seeking comment.
North Carolina Officer Charged In Body-Slamming Incident
A North Carolina district attorney says misdemeanor charges have been filed against a school resource officer seen on video body-slamming a middle school student.
The officer, identified as Warren Durham, was fired earlier this week. District Attorney Mike Waters said Tuesday that Durham will be charged with assault on a child under 12, misdemeanor child abuse and willful failure to discharge his duties.
The officer was seen on surveillance video Dec. 12 violently slamming a boy to the floor twice and then dragging him out of camera range. The child was not seriously injured.
Charlotte Lands Major League Soccer Expansion Team
Charlotte has been awarded a Major League Soccer expansion team. The MLS commissioner announced that Charlotte will begin play in the 2021 season. The team will be allowed to begin signing players immediately.
New Charlotte team owner David Tepper says he hopes to have a general manager and coach in place in about a month. Tepper also owns the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
The team will play its MLS games at the home of the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in downtown Charlotte. The name of the Charlotte franchise will be announced at a later date.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad