WEST virginia legislature
2019 FIRST EXTRAORDINARY session
Introduced
House Bill 140
By Delegate Cooper
[Introduced May 20, 2019]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-2-2b; and to amend and reenact §18A-4-2 of said code, all relating to providing a bonus for teachers willing to teach in certain critical needs areas and increasing state minimum salary of special needs teachers and teachers of mathematics and computer science in grades seven through 12.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 2. SCHOOL PERSONNEL.
§18A-2-2b. Bonus to attract teachers in critical needs areas.
(a) In addition to other compensation provided under this code, county boards may provide a one-time signing bonus to qualified current or new teachers who will begin to teach in a critical needs area of math, science or special education.
(b) A bonus of $1,000 would be paid to the teacher at contract signing and $1,000 would be paid to the teacher at the end of the school year after completing the agreed assignment if the teacher is recommended for rehire.
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.
§18A-4-2. State minimum salaries for teachers.
(a) It is the goal of the Legislature to increase the state minimum salary for teachers with zero years of experience and an A. B. degree, including the equity supplement, to at least $43,000 by fiscal year 2019.
(b) For school year 2018–2019, and continuing thereafter, each teacher shall receive the amount prescribed in the State Minimum Salary Schedule as set forth in this section; specific additional amounts prescribed in this section or article; and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to §18A-4-5a of this code during the contract year.
STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE |
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(c) Six hundred dollars shall be paid annually to each classroom teacher who has at least 20 years of teaching experience. The payments: (i) Shall be in addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable State Minimum Salary Schedule; (ii) shall be paid in equal monthly installments; and (iii) shall be considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.
(d) To meet the objective of salary equity among the counties as set forth in §18A-4-5 of this code, each teacher shall be paid an equity supplement amount as applicable for his or her classification of certification or classification of training and years of experience as follows, subject to the provisions of that section:
(1) For “4th Class” at zero years of experience, $1,781. An additional $38 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(2) For “3rd Class” at zero years of experience, $1,796. An additional $67 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(3) For “2nd Class” at zero years of experience, $1,877. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(4) For “A. B.” at zero years of experience, $2,360. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(5) For “A. B. + 15” at zero years of experience, $2,452. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(6) For “M. A.” at zero years of experience, $2,644. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(7) For “M. A. + 15” at zero years of experience, $2,740. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(8) For “M. A. + 30” at zero years of experience, $2,836. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience;
(9) For “M. A. + 45” at zero years of experience, $2,836. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience; and
(10) For “Doctorate” at zero years of experience, $2,927. An additional $69 shall be paid for each year of experience up to and including 35 years of experience.
These payments: (i) Shall be in addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable State Minimum Salary Schedule, any specific additional amounts prescribed in this section and article and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to §18A-4-5a of this code; (ii) shall be paid in equal monthly installments; and (iii) shall be considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.
(e) Two thousand dollars shall be paid annually to each special education teacher. Two thousand dollars shall be paid annually to each classroom teacher who teaches at least one mathematics or computer science course in any of the grade levels seven through 12. The payments to special education teachers or to teachers of mathematics or computer science, are subject to the following:
(1) The teacher is fully certified and has the appropriate programmatic level and special education, mathematics, or computer science specialization recognized on his or her professional license for teaching the course;
(2) This payment is:
(A) In addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable state minimum salary schedule;
(B) Paid in equal monthly installments; and
(C) Considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to encourage additional teachers to teach in critical needs areas of math, science and special education by authorizing bonuses. The bill would increase the state minimum salary of special education teachers and teachers of mathematics and computer science in grades 7 through 12 by $2,000. The teacher must be fully certified with the appropriate programmatic level and specialization recognized on his or her professional license.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.