Jackson Free Press

Another marathon debate session in the Mississippi House of Representatives ended with the 86-26 passage of a bill to increase teacher salaries by about $4,250 over four years.

Under the Republican-sponsored plan that passed, teachers would get a $1,500 raise over the next two years, and a projected raise of $2,750 over the following two years, assuming state revenues continue growing at 3 percent a year.

Teachers in their first five years would get raises automatically. Those with more than five years' experience would have to meet three of 22 criteria, ranging from certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to sponsoring a school club.

Those "hoops" or "benchmarks" were a key focus of the three-hour debate. Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, a former chairman of the House Education Committee, said requiring teachers to meet the specified criteria to get a pay raise is unfair. He said teachers will wonder: "Why aren't you treating us like professionals? Why are you making us jump through all these hoops?"

Those who support benchmarks said they believe almost all teachers could meet the requirements, saying that the price tag of $188 million a year at full enactment includes every teacher now working for public schools.

"This is not merit pay," said House Education Chairman John Moore, R-Brandon. "This is professional achievement and letting the teachers control whether they get the raise."

Democrats attempted to amend House Bill 504 to give teachers an immediate $5,000 pay raise with no benchmarks. House GOP leaders said the requirements give a graceful way for Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, both Republicans, to change past positions favoring merit pay—raises based on test scores or other measures of student achievement.

"The benchmarks are in there because the governor has said he can't support across-the-board. We're putting benchmarks in to give him a way to save face," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville.

Mississippi had the second-lowest average teacher pay in the nation in 2013 at $41,994—above only South Dakota, according to a survey by the National Education Association.

Rep. Linda Whittington, D-Schlater, said an immediate $5,000 raise with no benchmarks, projected to cost $233 million a year, is worthwhile, even if the state has to dip into reserves.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we do have the money. We do not have the political will," said Whittington, the amendment's sponsor.

But Republicans said such a measure would be laughed out of the Senate, just as a House measure for an immediate $5,000 raise was ignored last year.

"We have brought forward a legitimate and good-faith effort to give the teachers a pay raise," House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said after the vote. "There are some that would play politics with this issue and try to bring out amendments that we have already seen will not survive."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Here's how Jackson-area representatives voted on the bill:

Yes

Rep. Alyce Clarke, D-Jackson

Rep. Bill Denny, R-Jackson

Rep. Deborah Dixon, D-Raymond

Rep. Rita Martinson, R-Madison

Rep. Brad Oberhousen, D-Jackson

Rep. Ray Rogers, R-Pearl

Rep. Adrienne Wooten, D-Jackson

Rep. Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton

No

Rep. Earle Banks, D-Jackson

Rep. Credell Calhoun, D-Jackson

Rep. Kimberly Campbell, D-Jackson

Rep. Mary Coleman, D-Jackson

Rep. James Evans, D-Jackson

Voted Present (Neither yes nor no)

Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson

Here is the list of benchmarks, three of which veteran teachers must meet to receive a raise:

(a) Attaining a AA certificate or enrolling in the process, which may account for multiple benchmark achievements;

(b) Attaining a AAA certificate or enrolling in the process, which may account for multiple benchmark achievements;

(c) Attaining a AAAA certificate or enrolling in the process, which may account for multiple benchmark achievements;

(d) Attaining a World Class Teacher designation or enrolling in the process;

(e) Attaining national board certification as verified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards or enrolling in the process or attaining such certification;

(f) Receiving a principal recommendation, which such recommendation may account for the one (1) benchmark achievement;

(g) Consistently demonstrating student growth and student achievement as measured by the statewide testing programs developed by the State Board of Education under Chapter 16, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(h) Serving on any committee or being a featured speaker at the request of an officially recognized state or national educational organization whose purpose is to improve student achievement;

(i) Involvement in an education committee of a community group, i.e., Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce or others;

(j) Having membership with a professional teacher organization which focuses on student improvement or professional development; however, membership in any organization that collects dues from its members for political purposes shall be deemed ineligible for receipt of a benchmark credit;

(k) Participating in or having previously participated in recognized development seminars or studies outside the normal required, which may account for multiple benchmark achievements;

(l) Serving as an official mentor teacher;

(m) Teaching as an adjunct professor at a university or community college or teaching a bridge program;

(n) Volunteering for school-sponsored extracurricular activities or testing activities;

(o) Supervising student teachers;

(p) Teaching dual enrollment courses;

(q) Teaching advanced placement courses;

(r) Teachers who have attained additional endorsements, which may account for multiple benchmark achievements;

(s) Serving in a leadership position such as Grade Chair, Team Leader, or Leader of a Professional Learning Community;

(t) Being absent no more than five (5) days per contract year, other than being absent for school-related activities;

(u) Being certified in a critical subject shortage area, including:

(i) Special Education;

(ii) Mathematics;

(iii) Biology;

(iv) Chemistry;

(v) Physics; and

(vi) French, German or Spanish; and

(v) Teaching courses that align with end-of-course subject area tests.