Arkansas lawmakers discussing ideas for teacher pay increases

HARRISON, Ark. (KY3) – Lawmakers aside of a joint senate-house committee are assembly this week to debate instructor pay within the state of Arkansas.

Regardless of the difficulty being mentioned throughout a particular legislative session in August, lawmakers took no motion in the direction of making any modifications. Since then, college districts like Little Rock and Russellville have taken it upon themselves to boost instructor pay.

Lecturers statewide have requested lawmakers to make use of the $1.6 billion surplus the state has to extend pay for academics throughout the state. Arkansas Legislative Council voted to advocate a $5,000 bonus for academics and a $2,500 reward for categorised employees in late July. These funds got here from ESSER III American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.

Native district leaders in north Arkansas have had blended opinions in regards to the resolution.

“What we’re is a brief repair to a long-term drawback,” mentioned Dr. Stewart Pratt, superintendent of Harrison Public Colleges. “It’s not a straightforward process, however the state wants to take a look at ways in which we are able to tackle this to have an enduring affect.”

Dr. Pratt says legislators have the troublesome process of formulating plans to satisfy the totally different wants of districts.

“Every a type of committee members, in case you watch the video, they’re offering enter from their area. They’ve a really localized perspective,” he mentioned with regard to Monday’s legislative session. “There are one million views occurring, on the ground at present and yesterday. To seek out one system to satisfy all of these views could be very difficult.”

Harrison, like many different districts, is awarding bonuses to employees however anticipates a call to type the joint committee within the subsequent month.

“That’s what makes this so difficult is that some giant districts can afford issues and different districts can’t,” mentioned Pratt. “How do you equally present help throughout the state from the legislative aspect of issues?”

State lawmakers debated varied concepts to extend instructor pay throughout a committee assembly Monday, but no choices had been made throughout greater than two hours of dialogue.

The committee was again in session at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Lawmakers should finalize a plan for Governor Asa Hutchinson by November 1.

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