Budget Cuts, Teacher Salary Freeze

From the Idaho Statesman

Idaho House passes bill to let school districts cut pay in emergencies

The Idaho House has passed a bill that would let school districts negotiate with unions over pay reductions and furloughs when the districts declare financial emergencies.

Such emergencies could be caused by an economic downturn that cuts revenues.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, has said the bill would give local districts what they need when there isn’t enough state money to keep paying teachers as much as they have earned in the past.

State law now prohibits school districts from working teachers fewer hours or paying them less from one year to the next. In a recession-ridden economy, school districts cannot ask teachers to take time off or reduce their paychecks. If revenues fall, districts can only cut the number of teachers they employ.

Another bill sponsored by Nonini earlier this year would have repealed the law protecting teacher wages and work hours and prohibited districts from signing multiyear union contracts. That triggered opposition, and the bill was set aside. The new bill has broad, bipartisan support.

The bill, House Bill 252, passed the House 69-0 on Tuesday and now moves to the Senate.

Idaho House Ed: Freeze teacher experience to cut costs

The House Education Committee backed public schools chief Tom Luna's plan to freeze salaries for teachers based on experience, which would help save the state $8.1 million in fiscal year 2010.

Tuesday's vote was 10-6, with five Democrats and one Republican, Tom Trail of Moscow, opposing it.

If the bill becomes law, teachers won't advance on the salary grid based on experience, despite adding another year in the classroom.

The measure also cuts in half an early-retirement incentive for teachers over 55 who have worked at least 10 years. Luna plans to dump the incentive next year.

Agency spokeswoman Melissa McGrath says this will save money, in a year when public schools face at least $62 million in cuts proposed by his agency.

The Idaho Education Association opposed the changes.