Governor signs teacher raises

Friday, February 18th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Calling it well-deserved, Gov. Frank Keating signed a record $167 million teacher pay raise bill at a middle school on Friday, then promoted his program of increased academic rigor. "I applaud the Legislature for its prompt and decisive action," Keating said. "By moving early in the session to approve the teacher pay raise, legislators have sent a clear message: Oklahoma is serious about improving education. "I will continue to work with legislative leaders to assure that we pass additional school reform and economic growth measures this session."

The $3,000 pay raise bill was approved with one-dissenting vote in the 149-member Legislature on Wednesday, the same day thousands of teacher rallied at the Capitol. Education leaders said the increases were needed to stem the raiding of Oklahoma teachers by other states. They cited statistics showing Oklahoma ranked 48th in pay among the states.

The record increase was put on a front-burner by the Democratic majority in the Legislature and was one-third higher than recommended by Keating, a Republican. Keating signed the measure in teacher Steve Speegle's seventh-grade civics class after speaking to about 600 Roosevelt Middle School students in the auditorium. In his talk, the governor referred to the recent deaths of former U.S. House Speaker Carl Albert, cartoonist Charles Schulz and former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry. He said they are examples of what can be achieved from humble beginnings if students pursue an education and have such values as integrity, a strong work ethic and humility.

He said the $3,000 raise for teachers is not the total solution to improving Oklahoma schools. "Just spending a lot of money doesn't necessarily mean you're going to have a better product," he said. He said he would oppose any efforts to dilute his 4-by-4 curriculum program enacted a year ago. Keating said funding improvements should be accompanied by a tougher curriculum an end of social promotion and an expanded school day.

When he signed the bill in the classroom, he told the students, "You are the future of our state. It's important to focus on education." He urged them not to compromise on truth and hard work. The raises are for certified personnel, which would include teachers, librarians, nurses and principals.
Superintendents are not included in the raise package. "As we work to move Oklahoma teachers out of the bottom 10 in income, we must also continue our efforts to lift our entire state out of the bottom 10," Keating said. "For teachers, the session's work has been completed, but for our state's economic future and the future of our children, it has just begun."