They were ready to give us a $2000 raise last session -- and promised to revisit the issue this session. Why is there now no money for it in 2007, despite the huge state budget surplus? And why is a $800 (or $500) raise a budget buster this time around -- even as Texas teachers lag $4000 behind the national average in teacher pay?

Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Florence Shapiro said Tuesday a combination of an across-the-board teacher salary increase and incentive pay should be considered in the state budget.

"I think there's still room ... to look at both of them. I think they both need to be in the bill. I don't think there should be one or the other," said Shapiro, R-Plano. "As a pragmatist, I recognize that we need to review both and have some very serious conversations when it comes time."

Shapiro last week had suggested there might not be money for both after the House in its two-year state spending plan took $583 million from incentive-pay programs to fund an $800 across-the-board teacher pay raise. A strong incentive-pay advocate, Shapiro said then she'd fight for it and noted lawmakers approved a $2,000 across-the-board teacher raise last year.

This week, Shapiro and other Senate budget-writers put a smaller, across-the-board pay raise of about $500 on their unfunded "wish list." It would cost $300 million.

The Senate Finance Committee next week is scheduled to recommend a proposed budget to the Senate. After a vote, legislative negotiators will work out differences between the House and Senate proposals.

Shapiro said putting the raise on the "wish list" keeps it alive for negotiations.

We teachers keep being told we are important -- why don't you pay us like we are? And as far as merit pay goes, we are willing to give it a shot -- but only after you bring teacher pay in general up to national standards.

Posted by: Greg at 10:41 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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