Idaho House OKs bill to improve teacher salaries

BOISE – The Idaho House has approved a teacher-pay bill that calls for spending $125 million more on teacher salaries over the next five years.

House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, said Idaho is facing a crisis in its school system of losing teachers even as student numbers are growing. Idaho school districts are struggling to fill teaching positions, he said, and many are canceling classes or programs or relying on substitutes.

Meanwhile, Idaho’s minimum teacher salary of $31,750 is being paid to a third of Idaho’s teachers. “When they start at that level as new teachers, they don’t get a raise under the state’s pay system for eight years,” DeMordaunt said.

As a result, Idaho’s current teacher-pay system provides no incentive for teachers to stay in the profession, he said.

Under HB 296, the amount of money the state sends to school districts for teacher pay would rise next year and each of the next five years, for all teachers at all levels, provided the teachers meet performance requirements. Teachers also would be eligible for additional payments for master teachers, and for “leadership” premiums; and would earn additional pay for earning additional educational degrees.

By the end of the five-year phase-in, Idaho’s minimum teacher salary would be up to $37,000. The bill is seen as a centerpiece of this year’s legislative session, designed to carry out the aims of a stakeholder task force for improving schools that was appointed by Gov. Butch Otter.

It’s the third version proposed. While earlier versions drew opposition from teachers, HB 296 has drawn support from all sides, including teachers, school administrators, school boards and lawmakers from both parties.

The eight “no” votes were all from House Republicans, half of them from North Idaho, including Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton; Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens; Heather Scott, R-Blanchard; and Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene.

The teacher-pay bill still needs Senate passage and the governor’s signature to become law.