We have learned that SB 2770, the bill calling for a $4,000 salary increase for teachers and a $1,000 increase for teacher assistants, contains a reverse repealer, so the bill will have to go to conference for the repealer to be removed. Both the House and Senate must vote on the final conference report.
Please ask your legislators to INSIST on a $4,000 teacher pay raise in SB 2770!
Capitol Switchboard: 601.359.3770
Share the same message with Speaker Philip Gunn, Capitol: 601.359.3300, and Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, Capitol: 601.359.3200.
Find additional contact information for legislators.
A recent revenue report has made it clear that Mississippi CAN AFFORD a $4,000 pay raise for teachers AND a pay raise for state employees. At the end of February, revenue was already above the estimate on which current appropriations bills are based by $129-million, and we are on track to exceed the current estimate by $190-million. Less than half of that is needed for the $4,000 teacher pay raise – and the PERS increase you keep hearing about is already covered in the current, lower estimate.
When the House increased the amount of the teacher pay raise to $4,000, it did so via an amendment proposed by Rep. Steve Holland. Prior to the final amendment vote, an attempt was made to table, or kill, the amendment and revert to the smaller $1,000 raise. You can see how your representative voted here. Please be sure to thank the 55 HERO representatives who voted NO on the attempt to kill the $4,000 raise!
Research shows consistently that an excellent teacher is the most important factor in student achievement. Mississippi’s teacher shortage crisis has a direct impact on our children’s daily school experience. Please make those calls to the legislators who represent your school district. Ask your friends and family to call, too. Our children and their teachers are counting on us, and together, we’ve got this!
