Oklahoma Senate gives final OK to tax hikes for teacher pay

Mary Fallin says she “absolutely” plans to sign a package of tax hikes to generate hundreds of millions of new dollars for teacher pay and avert statewide school closures. “We can’t keep taking away from the funding side and expect Oklahoma to be okay”. They think it’s time to ratchet up the pressure on lawmakers to provide more compensation and school spending. Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Lexington, is one of those lawmakers.

“It took us almost 30 years in this building to raise taxes, and about 72 hours to turn around and cut them again”, said Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City. It increases the state’s gasoline tax by 3 cents and the diesel tax by 6 cents. But it also pursued tax cuts during the economic recovery that followed, dropping income taxes and reducing the gross production tax on oil and gas companies.

The OEA had told legislators that teachers were seeking a $10,000 pay raise over three years, a $5,000 raise for other support professionals over the same period of time, an adjustment to retirees’ pensions, and full restoration of funding to what they call essential, or core education services. “If not, classes will resume Thursday, April 5”, said Aaron McColloch, the district’s spokesman. “She has 75 to 80 kids and has 30 books to work with”, teacher Larry Jamison said. “Those voting yes answered the call from the public by voting teachers a pay raise and putting the state on a solid foundation for the future”. I’m proud of our state. Teachers have not had a raise in a decade even as they have borne higher out-of-pocket costs for health care and pensions.

In Kentucky, teachers are also striking in order to fight changes to their pensions plans.

Advocates say low teacher compensation pushes educators out of Oklahoma classrooms and the profession.

The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), the states’ largest teachers union, said that the wage hike is “a truly historic moment” but that it is “incomplete”, CNN reported. The regional average was $48,450.

It wasn’t immediately clear what impact the measure would have on Monday’s threatened walkout. Last week, Cache Independent School District Superintendent Chad Hance sent a letter to prepare parents for the walkout.

Aware of the deep opposition among teachers, Priest added, “I know you may be disappointed like me that the legislature left money on the table”.

Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, told Education Week that she isn’t sure whether the walkout will continue past Monday. On average, they’ll get about $6,000, but many of them are still walking out of their classrooms on Monday.

The coalition reached out to TPS, which had teachers confidentially identify students who could benefit who were not already enrolled in the school’s Backpack Program.

“Basically, how are their babies going to eat while they’re doing this walkout to stand up for them”, McGavock said.

“It was not easy getting here”, Fallin said. Republican Rep. Tim Downing, who also voted against the recent tax measures, represents the area as well.

“Educators have not been involved in this process”, he said.

Educators like music teacher Steve Lehew said they hope to set an example for their students as well as put education back in the spotlight.

What started in West Virginia has spread to Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Arizona. “We’re fixin’ to make this state a very good place to live again”. But John D. Montgomery, publisher of the Purcell Register, says state legislators could pay a political price for not backing tax increases to improve the state’s budget.

Tinney said many Oklahomans would be thrilled to receive a $5,000 raise in a year.