Pay raises for all Idaho educators — both classified educators and education support professionals — were overwhelmingly approved in votes on the House and Senate floors at the end of the week.
The pair of bills were the last of seven appropriations that make up the public schools budget — approximately one half of the entire state budget — for final consideration. The legislation, one of Gov. Brad Little’s top legislative priorities for the year, now goes to him for his signature.
“IEA members deserve congratulations and a huge round of applause for these boosts in educator pay,” said IEA Associate Executive Director Matt Compton. “At every opportunity, they told lawmakers how important this funding is to their students, schools and colleagues because they know our crisis in public education would only deepen without it. This funding is an important step away from Idaho’s chronic underfunding of public education and IEA members will continue to push to keep that momentum going.”
Senate Bill 1205 allocates nearly $145 million for teacher pay raises, calculated at $6,359 per full-time employee and raising starting teacher salary to around $47,477 — among the top ten states in the country.
It passed the Senate on a 33-2 vote on Thursday and received unanimous support in the House later the same day on a 69-0 vote. ‘No’ votes in the Senate were cast by Sens. Brian Lenney (R-Nampa), who is also a member of the Education Committee and Dan Foreman (R-Moscow).
Senate Bill 1206 allocates $97.4 million for pay increases for classified school employees, such as bus drivers, custodians and classroom paraprofessionals. The state money is designed to replace local dollars schools use to beef up pay for hard-to-fill classified jobs. It passed the Senate in 24- 9 vote and a 54-15 vote in the House. Both votes were held on Thursday.
Here’s who voted against paying a living wage to Idaho’s education support professionals in the Senate:
- Cindy Carlson (R- Riggins) – Education Committee member
- Dan Foreman (R- Moscow)
- Phil Hart (R-Kellogg)
- Scott Herndon (R-Sagle) – Education Committee member
- Brian Lenney (R- Nampa) – Education Committee member
- Tammy Nichols (R-Middleton) – Education Committee member
- Chris Trakel (R- Caldwell)
- Steve Vick (R-Dalton Gardens)
- Glenneda Zuiderveld (R- Twin Falls)
Here’s who voted against paying a living wage to Idaho’s education support professionals in the House:
- Joe Alfieri (R-Coeur d’Alene)
- Kevin Andrus (R-Lava Hot Springs)
- Vito Barbieri (R-Dalton Gardens)
- Jaron Crane (R-Nampa)
- Barbara Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls) – Education Committee member
- Jacyn Gallagher (R-Weiser)
- Dale Hawkins (R-Fernwood) – Education Committee member
- Mike Kingsley (R-Lewiston)
- Tina Lambert (R-Caldwell)
- Ron Mendive (R-Coeur d’Alene) – Education Committee member
- Elaine Price (R-Coeur d’Alene) – Education Committee member
- Jordan Redman (R-Coeur d’Alene)
- Heather Scott (R-Blanchard)
- Josh Tanner (R-Eagle)
- Tony Wisniewski (R-Post Falls) – Education Committee member