Oklahoma lawmakers question State Supt. Walters about teacher pay raises in budget request
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma lawmakers are a week away from the legislative session, but the conversation on funding education has already started.
State Superintendent Ryan Waltersbrought a budget before state leaders for the second time this month. This time though, he was presenting his own numbers.
In the Senate and House Education Appropriations and Budget Subcommittees, lawmakers asked questions about initiatives Walters included, such as teacher pay and early childhood literacy.
They also questioned some of the items not included in the budget, including millions of dollars in funding misused from the ClassWallet scandal.
In terms of teacher pay, Walters' priority is a merit-based pay increase.
"Our best and brightest teachers have to be incentivized," Walters said. "Our best and brightest teachers have to have the pay to support what they're doing in the classroom."
The $150M budget request for his pay incentive plan was questioned from both sides of the aisle.
Democrats are concerned that a teacher's pay could fluctuate.
"This is absolutely a stipend process if the Superintendent is saying that a teacher who gets a lower score at some point in the future could have a lower salary," Rep. Andy Fugate, (D)-OKC said.
Even republicans on board with performance-based pay aren't convinced about how it will be fair for all teachers.
"It's something I've been generally supportive of," Senator Adam Pugh, (R)-Edmond said. "The devil is in the details in terms of how do you structure it where you really are rewarding your best and your brightest?"
Senator Pugh, along with many of his colleagues has not ruled out other payment options to keep teachers in the classroom.
"I am for a teacher pay raise across the board," Sen. Pugh said. "That's something I am going to run legislation the first or second week of session."
Walters' presentation is just a request. The numbers could completely change by the end of the session in May, since lawmakers and the Governor have the final say.
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