Raising The Grade: Oklahoma lawmakers and teacher's pay

They're partners in your child's education. Oklahoma lawmakers set aside money for schools and help shape how they're run. <br/><br/>In this week's Raising the Grade report, News on 6

Wednesday, June 9th 2004, 2:04 pm

By: News On 6

They're partners in your child's education. Oklahoma lawmakers set aside money for schools and help shape how they're run.

In this week's Raising the Grade report, News on 6 anchor Terry Hood takes a look at what lawmakers did for education this year.

They are at the head of Oklahoma classrooms, but some say Oklahoma teachers are behind the curve when it comes to pay. This year, state lawmakers decided to do something about that. They gave teachers a salary boost, earning them high marks from both Governor Brad Henry and the Oklahoma Education Association.

In April, Governor Henry signed into law House Bill 2662, which gave teachers the same health benefits as state employees. The state will spend about $52-million to pay all of teachers individual insurance premiums.

Senate Bill 1272 outlines a plan to raise teacherâ€™s salaries to the regional average over the next five years. For the average teacher that equals about a $4,500. House Minority Leader Todd Hiett says itâ€™s a good idea, but he asks where the money for raises will come from. He gives the legislature a "C" for not funding the teacher pay bills.

To make the raises a reality, lawmakers would have to approve pay hikes every session for the next four years. Even then, Oklahoma teachers may not catch up to the regional average, because that average is likely to keep climbing.

Education committee chair Barbara Staggs: "While I think that's going to be difficult because itâ€™s kind of a moving target. I'm certainly pleased that the governor decided he was going to try to accomplish that."

Lawmakers pumped millions into early childhood education and a college scholarship program for Oklahoma high school students. A controversial gambling bill could give education its first new source of cash in almost 15 years.

Voters will decide this Fall if electronic gambling will be allowed at horse racing tracks. The measure could raise about $71-million for education per year. Several education bills never saw the light of day, including two that would have required high school students to pass end of instruction exams to graduate.

Supporters of the bills claimed educators were trying to skirt accountability. Staggs says the issue needs further study. "There are lots of ideas out there and I want us before I leave in two years to have made a decision about whether we're going to do it or not and if we're going to do it exactly how we're going to do it."

It's an issue that's likely to resurface for the next legislative session.