During his State of the State Address, Governor Stitt called for an additional $1,200 pay raise for Oklahoma’s public school teachers. It came a step closer to reality this week as the House Appropriations and Budget Committee approved House Bill 1780. House Speaker Charles McCall is carrying the bill.
“I have said many times that the pay raise last year was a good first step, but my goal is to get our teachers to number one in the region in pay,” said McCall. “This bill helps us get closer to that goal. House Republicans have made a commitment to our teachers and we are going to follow through. Better pay not only shows our teachers that they are valued, but it also helps us recruit and attract new teachers to the profession and retain the experienced teachers we already have.”
House Common Education Committee Chairwoman Rhonda Baker said the goal is to address pay early in session and then focus on getting more money into the classrooms.
“It is a two-step approach to ensuring our teachers are paid better and then getting them the resources they need to teach our children,” said Baker. “Our students need additional dollars dedicated to the classroom for textbooks and better technology. House Republicans have several bills coming down the road to help us get that done this session.”
The A&B Committee approved HB 1780 unanimously. It now heads to the full House.
NO on this pay raise UNTIL EDUCATION REFORM BEGINS. LET”S clean up this failed education system in OK. CONSOLIDATION, merit pay, longer school days, longer school calendar and MOVE sports to AFTER school NOT during the school day. School vouchers.
I think a $6000 to $10,000 was excise with NO change to anything in education. What does OK students get: more failures.. And retired teachers got NOTHING. Such behavior by this failing legislature.
Please Jane go back to school. Your grammar is an embarrassment to others and should be to you.