KEEPING EXPERIENCED TEACHERS IN NEW MEXICO CLASSROOMS. THAT’S THE GOAL OF SENATE BILL 14 FROM SENATOR MIMI STEWART. SHE SAYS TOO MANY EXPERIENCED TEACHERS ARE LEAVING AND NOT ENOUGH NEW TEACHERS ARE COMING IN TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
STEWART’S PROPOSAL WOULD RAISE PAY FOR ALL THREE TIERS OF TEACHING PAY LEVELS. LEVEL ONE FOR NEW TEACHERS WOULD BE TAKEN FROM 30-THOUSAND TO 40-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. IT WOULD TAKE LEVEL TWO TO 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND LEVEL THREE TO AT LEAST SIXTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.
STEWART SAYS THE INCREASES ARE NEEDED TO HELP FILL OVER 450 TEACHER VACANCIES STATE-WIDE RIGHT NOW.
