UPDATE 5:30 PM: We are so grateful Senate leadership stepped up and saved the teacher pay raise bill with some hours to spare. We now have a live bill that includes a pay raise for teachers and assistant teachers! Thank you, and all the teachers, for hearing the call. We will keep you posted as the bill must clear the Senate floor before it heads to the House. Passing this bill will be historic for Mississippi teachers, let’s make it a reality.
As of 1:45 PM, here is where we stand with teacher pay:
There are currently 4 bills alive that have the correct code section (37-19-7) for a teacher pay raise–two Senate bills sitting in the House (SB 2444 and SB 2443) and two House bills sitting in the Senate (HB 530 and HB 43). All four of these bills were double-referred in the opposing house, meaning that each must pass two committees (Education and Appropriations) to make it to the floor of the opposing house. This must be done by midnight tonight to keep teacher pay alive. Right now, there are no education committee meetings scheduled in the House or the Senate.
The pathways through the House for the two Senate bills currently alive:
- Senate Bill 2444–Senate Teacher Pay Raise Bill: Must pass BOTH House Ed AND House Appropropriations by midnight tonight
- Senate Bill 2443–National Board Certified School Employees; Delete Caps: Must pass House Appropriations by midnight tonight (ALREADY passed House Ed)
Here are the pathways through the Senate for the two House bills currently alive:
- House Bill 530–House Teacher Pay Raise Bill: Must pass BOTH Senate Ed and Senate Appropriations by midnight tonight
- House Bill 43–National Board Certified School Employees; Delete Caps: Must pass BOTH Senate Ed and Senate Appropriations by midnight tonight
Negotiations are ongoing in the House and the Senate. One way or another, an emergency meeting must be called in either the House or Senate as there are no additional education meetings scheduled, and House and Senate Appropriations have also ended.
If none of these things happen, there will be no bill alive that can be amended to include a teacher pay raise. At that point, our only hope is a special session called by Governor Tate Reeves.
We are working as hard as we can behind the scenes to find a compromise that will open a path to the bills staying alive. We will keep you posted.
In the meantime, the best thing to do is to keep sending messages to House and Senate leadership–specifically Dennis DeBar in the Senate and Richard Bennett in the House. We need at least one of them to call a committee meeting to keep the bills moving.
Please keep working hard to get the teacher pay raise. We appreciate all you are doing to support our state’s educators.
Because inflation has hit hard. Everybody needs means to survive. It is basic minimal. Although it is noble profession but teachers’ family is waiting at home at the end of the day. And you people are doing great job by being the voice of the people
We need our kid’s educated! We as teachers are here and able to teach and educate all children. What we need is a little assurance on the way. It’s just not enough income to live off we are struggling!
Please help!
Please call a committee meeting to keep the teacher pay raise bill alive today. Many teachers that I know presently work more than one job to support families and classrooms.
You have no idea of the hours and hours we teachers put into this career that we are not paid for because we work at home and on the weekends after hours. You have no idea what we go through on a daily basis. This is like a slap in the face with all the political double speak and promises of helping teachers only to see this dying before our eyes. Do something to back up all the pretty words and phrases.
Please show the teachers of Mississippi that they are valued! Encourage others to choose teaching as a career by increasing the pay. Do not let the teacher pay raise die in committee!
Please keep working toward a teacher pay raise. It is desperately needed and will be greatly appreciated. Our students deserve the best teachers, and I hate the idea of losing great teachers to other states! I appreciate all that you are doing.
All Teachers need this pay raise to support families and give care to their elders. Please call a committee meeting to keep the teacher pay raise bill alive. We appreciate everything you are doing and we need all of our kids educated for the future.
We so appreciate the consideration of a pay raise for all teachers! We know as time goes on cost of living has increased and would so appreciate if our pay were to match. The teachers and teacher aids have been working diligently to aid in bridging the gaps that arose due to the pandemic. We will continue to work towards one common goal which is making education a priority in Mississippi. Once again thank you for the consideration! God bless!
Dear Sir,
I am a teacher that is retiring at the end of this school year after 18 yrs. My son, who didn’t finish college, works at Nissan and makes more than I do after 5 yrs. We need for you at the state level, to not just talk the talk but to walk the walk.
Teachers’ salaries should be paid for through the state budget and not passed down for poor school districts to cover the cost of salary increases when they are struggling to have enough monies to pay for the current staff without overloading the classrooms.
What were the casinos and lottery system monies support to support?
Mississippi is going to be in a lot of trouble because of teachers leaving the teaching profession or moving out of state. There is NO WAY I could live on my salary if I was a single parent.
There need to be more teachers on your committees at the house and the senate. You are beginning to look like Washington DC.
Sincerely, KV
Please call a committee meeting to keep the teacher pay raise alive and to get it passed. Thank you for your hard work and continued efforts.
Please continue to fight for MS youth and education system by calling an immediate meeting to vote Yes on the Senate Bill 2444 and 2443. Thank you in advance for anything that you can do.
Kindly consider and understand the Mississippi teacher pay, so low when we compare with our teacher friends in neighbor states. We appreciate all you are doing to support our state’s educators.
Already schools are suffering due to the shortage of staff. Keep the teacher pay raise bill alive to help teachers stay in the workforce. Stop the exodus!
Thank you for what you are doing, fighting for us, I hope you will continue to do so, in hopes to get this bill passed. Teachers help create our future! Sadly we are underpaid and many are barely making it, taking on other jobs, or leaving the field they love so they can support their families. Please help Mississippi Teachers.
Please show the teachers of Mississippi that they are valued. Vote to keep hope alive!
I will appreciate any pay raise. I also appreciate the hard work you’ll are doing. In order for Mississippian to keep moving forward we must invest in education for our youth. I know we have lose a lot of educators to other states, because of the low teacher salaries. This bill will be a great investment for the state of Mississippi. Mississippi please show that you care about your educators by passing this bill. Thanks