My House colleagues and I made some history last week and hopefully demonstrated to our public schoolteachers and their assistants that they are valued and respected.
House Bill 530 (The START Act) bumps up starting teacher pay by at least $4,000 and up to $6,000 per year. These professional educators will be making at least $43,000 the first year – working toward a goal of the 1982 Education Reform Act of comparable teacher salaries to other states in the Southeast. That also will put our starting teacher pay average at competitive rates to our neighboring states where many Mississippi teachers have gone for higher pay.
The bill also provides salary increases for all teachers by $4,000 to $6,000 per year in addition to substantial increases in “steps” which boost pay at prescribed experience levels.
I think one of the best features of this bill is the fact that it increases teacher assistant pay by $2,000 per year. These paraprofessionals are essential for the success of our elementary classrooms. They more than deserve increased pay consideration and have for some time.
As you have likely read, Mississippi is currently about 3,000 teachers short of our needs. Many of those slots are empty due to poor pay and the difficulties of teaching under the current pandemic stress.
We have watched our teachers adapt to online teaching, adjusting their schedules and presentations to accommodate their students, no matter where they are. They have followed and enforced various directives as to how to keep their students and themselves safe. Some have even risked their lives to stay in the classroom. The least we can do is make sure we pay them accordingly.
I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 530. Last Wednesday, along with 113 of my colleagues, I voted to pass it as written and send it on to the Senate for their consideration.
The vote on this measure demonstrated that House members can work together to make important things happen for Mississippi.
As always, I am standing by to answer any questions or take any suggestions you may have.
If I can be of assistance to you, please contact me. My email address is tureynolds2@gmail.com. My residential address is 1720 North Main Street, Water Valley, MS 38965, and my office address is P.O. Box 280, Charleston, MS 38921. My office phone number is 662-647-3203.
