A close committee vote followed by overwhelming favor on the floor sent teacher pay accountability extension to the Senate.

 

On an 8-6 vote by the House Education committee and a 65-1 vote by the full House, House Bill 1080, which extends the average teacher compensation targets until the 2023-24 school year, to the Senate.

 

“This bill only extends (teacher pay accountabilities),” Rep. Hugh Bartels, the bill’s sponsor, told committee members. “It doesn’t raise the bar.”

 

HB 1080 would reinstate the previous requirement in law, which was active for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, that a district’s average teacher compensation must exceed the level established in the 2016-17 school year – the first year revenue from the half-cent sales tax increase was utilized for the teacher pay increase.

 

Rep. Bartels noted the penalty in law if a district did not meet the 2016-17 level was a reduction in state aid, but said “there’s never been a school district that’s had their (state aid) lowered” since the implementation.

 

ASBSD is monitoring the bill. However, despite not testifying in favor or against the bill, Executive Director Wade Pogany was asked about the school board perspective on the proposal to which he shared “as long as the (six percent increase in state aid) doesn’t have further restrictions on it” school boards did not oppose the bill.

 

For updates on HB 1080 and other pieces of legislation this session, check the ASBSD Blog and Billtracker page.