Senators file bill proposing new pay schedule for math and science secondary teachers
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Summary
Superintendent Mackey told the board that senators filed a bill proposing a differentiated statewide pay matrix for math and science teachers (grades 6–12) tied to certification, experience and voluntary commitments (including National Board or similar certifications) and that the bill would allow higher pay for hard‑to‑staff schools; staff will d
Superintendent Donald Mackey alerted the board that a senate bill had been filed proposing a new differentiated pay schedule for secondary math and science teachers.
Mackey said the draft bill would require teachers to hold a math or science certificate and to teach math or science full time at grades 6–12 to qualify. The measure as described would link pay to credentials such as National Board certification or a national STEM certificate, require a probationary contract period, and allow teachers to relinquish tenure to accept the new pay terms. It would add an extra $5,000 for teachers in hard‑to‑staff schools (the department would help determine those schools). Mackey said sponsors intend the pay matrix to make math and science teachers among the highest paid in the country at the top end; he said the bill had been filed as SB327 and that the department would circulate the full text and matrix to the board when available.
Why it matters: the proposal would create a new statutory pay pathway for select secondary teachers, influence recruitment and retention in STEM fields and include contract‑type changes (probationary and multi‑year contract options) tied to certification and placement in hard‑to‑staff schools.
