(NETWORK INDIANA) The House is ready to vote Monday on a plan to give teachers a raise.
House Republicans’ bill urges but doesn’t order school districts to steer 85-percent of their budgets to the classroom. Ways and Means Co-Chairman Todd Huston (R-Fishers) says there may be good reasons why some districts can’t meet that standard — the bill would require them to explain in writing.
Republicans rejected a Democratic proposal to set a minimum teacher salary of 40-thousand dollars. Indianapolis Representative Ed DeLaney (D) says that’s close to Indiana’s highest starting salary, but Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) says it’s an arbitrary number, with many teachers’ paychecks either far below or far above it.
The House has already passed a bill allowing teachers to earn more by mentoring newer teachers. And Bosma says Governor Holcomb’s request to free up money by spending 150-million dollars to cover unfunded local pension liabilities will be part of the state budget. He calls it one of the smartest one-time expenditures the state’s ever made.
All three bills will go to the Senate next month.
Holcomb is forming a commission to recommend further ideas by 2021.
