Post by Logan on Feb 23, 2016 6:28:43 GMT -6
OLYMPIA — House Democrats would boost the state’s portion of the lowest starting salary for public-school teachers to $40,000-a-year by closing several tax exemptions as part of their supplemental budget released on Monday.
The plan would alter the $38 billion, two-year state budget adopted in 2015, including by directing $318 million from the state’s emergency fund to pay for needs such as wildfire suppression, reducing youth homelessness and an additional $148.9 million from the fund for school construction going to the capital budget.
“This is not a year just to relax and get out of town,” Rep. Hans Dunshee, a Democrat from Snohomish, said during a news conference. Dunshee is the main budget writer for the House. “There are really serious crises that need to be addressed.”
One of those crises is a perceived teacher shortage.
A 2015 survey by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction reports that 93 percent of 733 principals say they either struggle to find qualified teaching candidates or are in “crisis mode,” looking for teachers. Forty-five percent say they couldn’t fill openings with qualified teachers.
Read more: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-house-democrats-seek-teacher-pay-raises/
The plan would alter the $38 billion, two-year state budget adopted in 2015, including by directing $318 million from the state’s emergency fund to pay for needs such as wildfire suppression, reducing youth homelessness and an additional $148.9 million from the fund for school construction going to the capital budget.
“This is not a year just to relax and get out of town,” Rep. Hans Dunshee, a Democrat from Snohomish, said during a news conference. Dunshee is the main budget writer for the House. “There are really serious crises that need to be addressed.”
One of those crises is a perceived teacher shortage.
A 2015 survey by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction reports that 93 percent of 733 principals say they either struggle to find qualified teaching candidates or are in “crisis mode,” looking for teachers. Forty-five percent say they couldn’t fill openings with qualified teachers.
Read more: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-house-democrats-seek-teacher-pay-raises/