Senate calls for smaller raises for teachers

This from the Herald-Leader:

FRANKFORT, Ky. --Teachers would receive smaller pay raises under a budget proposal being considered by Senate lawmakers.

The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee was preparing for a vote on the two-year spending plan on Monday, then sending it to the full Senate for consideration.

The proposal calls for 1 percent wage increases in each of the next two fiscal years for public school teachers. A proposal approved by House lawmakers earlier this month would provide raises of 1 percent in the first year of the budget and 3 percent in the second.

Kentucky Education Association President Sharron Oxendine said she is hopeful the larger raises can be restored before lawmakers give final approval to the budget.

"It's not just bad for teachers, it's bad for public education," Oxendine said. "When you have school employees having to go out and take second and third jobs to make ends meet, that's a detriment to education."

Oxendine was also critical of a Senate promise to increase teacher salaries later, if state revenues were to grow.

"You can't make ends meet on a promise," she said...