State House panel approves teacher pay increases

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill designed to provide four-year incremental salary increases to Oklahoma teachers beginning in 2005 won approval Monday in a House committee.<br><br>Senate Bill 1272, by Rep.

Monday, March 29th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill designed to provide four-year incremental salary increases to Oklahoma teachers beginning in 2005 won approval Monday in a House committee.

Senate Bill 1272, by Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester, passed unanimously through the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, although some concerns were raised that the measure was unconstitutional.

The bill, which was a key component of Gov. Brad Henry's plan for improving education, includes raises for all teachers based on years of experience and degree level. The raises range from $300 each year for a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree to $1,800 annually for a 25-year teaching veteran with a doctorate.

House staff estimated the raises will cost the state $45 million annually based on current educator staff levels.

"If we want to build a better education system and boost economic development in the process, we have to make Oklahoma a more attractive state in which to teach," Henry said. "By raising teacher pay to the regional average, we can stop Texas and other states from raiding our teaching talent and keep our best and brightest educators in Oklahoma."

Oklahoma's average teacher salary is $34,877. The average teacher in Oklahoma's seven-state region - Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas - earns $38,527, according to information from the governor's office.

Rep. Fred Perry, a member of the House subcommittee, said he agreed with the idea of increasing teacher pay, but questioned the constitutionality of requiring future legislatures to pay for the raises.

"I respect our hard working teachers as much as anybody else does," said Perry, R-Tulsa. "But by putting in statute four years of increases, that is absolutely not legal. You cannot commit a future legislature to expenditures."

But Robert Thompson, general counsel for the Oklahoma Senate, said the bill does not appropriate any money. Any future legislature, he said, can change the law if revenues aren't available.

"It is true that one legislature can't bind a future legislature to make a future appropriation," Thompson said. "That doesn't mean this bill is unconstitutional.

"If it's in the statute, it's always subject to amendment."

Perry also said it was unfair to teachers to establish a salary schedule that may be changed or modified in upcoming years, adding that many teachers may not understand the raises are not set in stone.

"I question if this isn't just an election-year ploy," Perry said.

Harrison said he took offense to Perry's suggestion.

"No, this isn't an election-year ploy, Harrison responded. "This is a lifelong passion of mine to make sure our teachers are paid at least a regional average.

"And I am just absolutely flabbergasted that any person might say or even think that teachers don't understand the process."

The bill now goes to the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee, where it must be approved before heading to the House floor.