Bearcat Wrap-up Podcast - The Governor's Teacher Salary Proposal

Episode Date: June 30, 2022

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It's important for all the certified staff in our schools to be aware of the details in Governor Hutchinson's proposal to increase teachers' salaries in the state further. You can read the original news story that's linked in the printed publication of this blog post, but in this audio episode, I'll just tell you a few things about it it proposes a new minimum salary of forty six thousand dollars that's what's in the story but that has since been reduced to forty two thousand which would be a forty five hundred minimum increase for Mena Public Schools licensed staff members. Our current base minimum salary is $37,500. We are being encouraged by the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators to inform our licensed staff about this and suggest that you contact your legislators and encourage them

to convene and pass the governor's plan. It may seem obvious that you would do this, but before any of you do, there are some things that you need to be aware of. There are some cons. Many legislators do not want to convene for a special session because they are against the governor's plan. They are against it because the way that the funding is structured does not contain enough long-term sustainability to support it. Arkansas Public School Resource Center has provided a breakdown of the funding plan, which is also linked in the story, and it appears to be solid, but there are some caveats.

First, the $425 per student increase to the funding matrix, which is in the plan, does not account for employees that are being paid out of federal or categorical funds, such as Title I, ESA, and ALE. categorical funds such as Title I, ESA, and ALE. Also, the $425 per student increase does not account for non-licensed employees and if we give a raise to licensed staff, I want to do the same for non-licensed staff. And lastly, the $425 per student increase does not account for the extended contracts and multipliers that many of our staff members are on. All licensed staff except for superintendent and assistant superintendent are tied to the salary schedule and when the base is increased, there is a compounding impact on the salary expenses that the additional calculations from the State Department did not consider in this latest funding proposal whatever salary

expense that the new funding does not cover must come from the district furthermore we would have to increase the salaries paid out of federal and categorical funds leaving less money available for supplies materials equipment travel etc Kim and I have done some rough calculations to see how to see how this would impact Mena Public Schools if passed and we can afford it in the foreseeable future along with another increase for classified staff but many smaller districts around the state will not be able to sustain this salary increase there's concern that

making the governor's proposal into law will create a fiscal cliff some of us will fall down in a few years because our local revenues will not support this raise now the good on the good side the pros are that first the obvious pro is that another teacher raise is good for the students of Arkansas will be able to remain competitive with the states around us to attract top-tier talent teaching talent and provide our greatest human commodity that's you all the teachers with a better lifestyle and a brighter future for yourself and your families we will be better able to entice young people to

enter the profession and attract the best and brightest who have been choosing other professions for decades now if If you did not open, if you do not look, if you have not looked at the link of the APSRC breakdown please do so to see a comparison of Arkansas salaries with neighboring states. It appears that many other states raised salaries recently and Arkansas is near the bottom again. Educational adequacy is something that legislators consider every year and Arkansas will have another legislative session in 2023. I do feel that our leaders will be aware of the shortfalls, if there are any, and make sure schools are adequately funded. that's in our constitution however we must always be aware of the positions our leaders take on public education and not

assume they will adhere to what adequacy determines so pay close attention to the political races that are happening right now so now what to do. The governor is asking for a special legislative session to propose this plan and address school safety and tax cuts. You are aware of the issues surrounding the governor's proposal to raise teacher salaries again, but this special session may not happen because many legislators are not in favor of this plan to raise salaries. legislators are not in favor of this plan to raise salaries. So, consider how strongly you feel about the issue and let our legislators know. I think both of our legislators are in favor of the plan, but contact them anyway to let them know your thoughts. Representative John Maddox, his email address is john.maddox at arkansahouse.org. And our senator is Terry Rice.

That email is terry.rice, Terry with a Y, dot rice at senate.ar.gov. It's totally up to you, but if you do contact them, please use your personal email or social media account. That's the end of this podcast. Thank you.