House Committee throws out governor’s plan to raise starting teacher salary
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
In a Monday afternoon budget committee hearing, Chair Rep. Cody Smith, R-Jasper, removed the governor's proposal to allocate $21.8 million to matching school districts in raising the starting salary for teachers to $38,000.
Gov. Mike Parson proposed raising the starting pay for teachers in Missouri in his State of the State address in January. Missouri currently ranks last in the country for starting teacher salaries at $32,000, according to the National Educators Association. Parson's proposal would have school districts and the state sharing the financial load.
Smith said in committee he doesn't support Parson's plan because it doesn't address the salaries of current teachers. ABC 17 has reached out to Smith's office to ask for clarification but has yet to hear back.
Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, questioned Smith in committee for removing the governor's proposal. Nurrenbern told ABC 17 the governor's proposal is a step in the right direction.
"I think we need to do a lot more, really have a robust conversation on not just what we need to do to increase teacher pay but also support staff pay," Nurrenbern said.
Nurrenbern said the money should get used for Parson's proposal or it will just sit in the treasury unused.
Todd Fuller with the Missouri State Teachers' Association said teacher salary is a big sticking point as to why so many people are leaving the profession.
"This is an issue that we've faced for a number of years, we've watched teacher salaries, not just starting teacher salaries but average teacher salaries, in the states surrounding us go up to the point where we're in a battle for last place with Montana," Fuller said.
Parson said in his January address that half of Missouri teachers leave the profession by their fifth year. But, Fuller said it's becoming more common for teachers to quit after just one year.
"We're seeing teachers leaving the profession now," Fuller said. "What we've seen this year, in particular, is that teachers in their first year are coming in, they're with us for one year, and then deciding that they don't want to teach ever again."
