Educators rallied for raises at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock Thursday.The teachers are asking lawmakers to use the $1.6 billion surplus the state has to increase pay for teachers across the state. Legislators will meet in August in a special session on how to spend that money.The minimum salary for teachers in Arkansas is $36,000 a year. That puts Arkansas last in the region and second-to-last in the country, according to Carol Fleming, Arkansas Education Association president.”It is about being able to put food on the table,” Fleming said. “But also we have about a quarter of our educators who are considering either leaving the profession entirely or retiring.””Having a minimum teacher salary which is higher than $36,000 statewide does not negate the opportunity for other school districts to still offer more, but this is a way for us to be able to recruit and retain highly qualified educators.””You have teachers with their pay qualifying, if they have a child, for free and reduced lunch,” Leron McAdoo, a teacher in Little Rock, said. “We have a surplus. We have a session coming up. It’s a no-brainer. Show me where your heart is.”Income Tax CutsTeacher pay isn’t on the agenda for the special legislative session scheduled to start in Little Rock on Aug. 8.Instead, the plan is to cut income taxes.”Hearing from members right now, you know, there’s members that have been saying well, we want to raise salaries. Others are saying we need to do more for benefit,” State Sen. Jimmy Hickey from Texarkana said. “There’s other members out there that believe we need a full redesign of the education system. I don’t know what that means and we’re not there. That’s something for a regular session.”One-Time Bonuses PossibleMembers of the Arkansas Legislative Council recommended bonuses for school teachers and staff member in a meeting today.”There had been some confusion and contradictions that we were even had been told at the legislature on whether or not that could be done or couldn’t be done,” Hickey said. “And that’s why all of the research went into place to show that it could be done.”The council passed a motion recommending that Arkansas school districts use $500 million in elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds to give full-time teachers a one-time $5,000 bonus.It also recommended that school staff members like bus drivers and cafeteria workers get a $2,500 bonus. It’s up to each school district to decide what’s best.Hutchinson disagrees with the council’s approach.”Under the appropriate passed last month the schools could use the funds for teacher bonuses and incentives,” Hutchinson wrote in a statement. “The big change now is that the schools must submit plans which must go back to the legislature for additional review and that local school district priorities may not be approved.Hutchinson was concerned that teachers in some districts could get a bonus while others may not.
Educators rallied for raises at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock Thursday.
The teachers are asking lawmakers to use the $1.6 billion surplus the state has to increase pay for teachers across the state. Legislators will meet in August in a special session on how to spend that money.
The minimum salary for teachers in Arkansas is $36,000 a year. That puts Arkansas last in the region and second-to-last in the country, according to Carol Fleming, Arkansas Education Association president.
“It is about being able to put food on the table,” Fleming said. “But also we have about a quarter of our educators who are considering either leaving the profession entirely or retiring.”
“Having a minimum teacher salary which is higher than $36,000 statewide does not negate the opportunity for other school districts to still offer more, but this is a way for us to be able to recruit and retain highly qualified educators.”
“You have teachers with their pay qualifying, if they have a child, for free and reduced lunch,” Leron McAdoo, a teacher in Little Rock, said. “We have a surplus. We have a session coming up. It’s a no-brainer. Show me where your heart is.”
Income Tax Cuts
Teacher pay isn’t on the agenda for the special legislative session scheduled to start in Little Rock on Aug. 8.
Instead, the plan is to cut income taxes.
“Hearing from members right now, you know, there’s members that have been saying well, we want to raise salaries. Others are saying we need to do more for benefit,” State Sen. Jimmy Hickey from Texarkana said. “There’s other members out there that believe we need a full redesign of the education system. I don’t know what that means and we’re not there. That’s something for a regular session.”
One-Time Bonuses Possible
Members of the Arkansas Legislative Council recommended bonuses for school teachers and staff member in a meeting today.
“There had been some confusion and contradictions that we were even had been told at the legislature on whether or not that could be done or couldn’t be done,” Hickey said. “And that’s why all of the research went into place to show that it could be done.”
The council passed a motion recommending that Arkansas school districts use $500 million in elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds to give full-time teachers a one-time $5,000 bonus.
It also recommended that school staff members like bus drivers and cafeteria workers get a $2,500 bonus. It’s up to each school district to decide what’s best.
Hutchinson disagrees with the council’s approach.
“Under the appropriate passed last month the schools could use the funds for teacher bonuses and incentives,” Hutchinson wrote in a statement. “The big change now is that the schools must submit plans which must go back to the legislature for additional review and that local school district priorities may not be approved.
Hutchinson was concerned that teachers in some districts could get a bonus while others may not.
