by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
Five and a half weeks into the legislative session, Gov. Sarah Sanders and lawmakers have yet to produce a much-hyped omnibus education bill, but they are close. On Wednesday (Feb. 8), Sanders revealed more details of her proposal amidst a backdrop of Republican sponsors who are committed to backing the measure.
Flanked by GOP senators and representatives at the foot of the stairwell to the Arkansas House of Representatives, Sanders said she planned to increase starting teacher pay in the state from $36,000 to $50,000. The starting teacher pay would move Arkansas from 48th to 4th in state rankings.
More than 15,000 teachers would also receive a pay raise to the $50,000 threshold and teachers over that salary floor could receive an immediate pay raise of $2,000, according to sources. Sanders’ plan would also reward “good teachers” – a phrase that is undefined – with potential $10,000 bonuses. The governor said her bill will also have an option to forgive student loans for teachers who locate in high-need areas of the state. It would also repeal the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act, which requires that teachers be notified of their employment status before May 1st each year.
