(Des Moines) Iowa House Representative Tom Moore of Griswold stated that House File 2630 would be the largest pay raise for teachers since 2003. Moore says if enacted and accompanied by Supplemental State Aid, it could be a total package increase of 4.5%-5%. The House passed the bill on Thursday 93-1.
Representative Moore says this bill raises the minimum teacher starting salary to $47,500 in year one and $50,000 in year two. It also provides $14 million for educational support staff to get as close to $15 per hour as possible with the allotted money. The minimum starting pay now is 33,500 dollars, and the bill would be the largest single boost to pay in state history.
“We’ve heard a lot from superintendents about the need to raise para educators’ salaries,” said Moore. ” It provides $22 million for TSS to help with salary schedules, and the school districts can use it to benefit their veteran teachers.
“The increase in starting teacher salary to $47,500 will move Iowa to 12th in the nation for teacher pay, and in the next year, $50,000 will move Iowa to 5th in the nation,” said Moore. That, coupled with Iowa being the fifth lowest state in terms of the cost of living, will make Iowa an extremely attractive state for new teachers.”
The bill will now go to the Senate.
