WEST virginia legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 113

By Senators Kessler, Unger, Snyder, Miller, Romano, Beach and Facemire

[Introduced January 13, 2016;
Referred to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-4-1b, relating to increasing pay to teachers over a five-year period.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18A-4-1b, to read as follows:

 ARTICLE 4.  SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.

§18A-4-1b.  Graduated salary increase for teachers beginning in 2016.

The Legislature hereby finds that in order to provide a quality free education to the children of West Virginia, we must pay teachers a competitive salary.  Paying teachers a competitive salary will ensure that we are able to keep the best and brightest teachers here in West Virginia, rather than leaving for additional pay in another state.  Paying teachers a competitive salary will also provide an incentive for students choosing a career to give further consideration to teaching.  Paying teachers a competitive salary will create an additional reason that a strong teacher from another area of the country may choose to move to West Virginia and teach in our school system.  Accordingly, the Legislature further finds that it is imperative to the well-being of the state that we increase teacher salaries in order to provide our students with the best possible education.  Therefore, the following adjustments to the state minimum salaries for teachers shall be made:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2016, the state minimum salaries for teachers shall be in accordance with section two of this article, plus an additional $1,000.

(2) Beginning July 1, 2017, the state minimum salaries for teachers shall be in accordance with section two of this article, plus an additional $2,500.

(3) Beginning July 1, 2018, the state minimum salaries for teachers shall be in accordance with section two of this article, plus an additional $5,000.

(4) Beginning July 1, 2019, the state minimum salaries for teachers shall be in accordance with section two of this article, plus an additional $7,500.

(5) Beginning July 1, 2020, and continuing thereafter, the state minimum salaries for teachers shall be in accordance with section two of this article, plus an additional $10,000.

NOTE:  The purpose of this bill is to provide for graduated increases to teachers’ salaries over the next five years such that after five years teachers receive a salary that is $10,000 greater than their current salary.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.