Legislative bill could bring teacher salary increases

Texas lawmakers are looking at property tax reform, education finance reform and increased teacher pay during the ongoing 86th Legislative Session. With 160-plus teachers in Graham Independent School District, according to the Texas Academic Performance Report for 2017-18, $5,000 for every teacher would make a positive impact, GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse said.

Governor Gregg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said on Jan. 15 the state would be doubling their efforts on education and property tax reform at the Inauguration Ceremony on the Capital Grounds in Austin. Patrick announced the senate would take up SB 3, which would give all teachers in Texas a $5,000 across the board pay raise. With the legislative session still early, Cruise said things could change.

“I think we are a long way away from anything for sure saying it is going to be $5,000 per teacher,” Cruse said. “We don’t know what that is going to look like, but obviously, depending on how they flowed that money, $5,000 a teacher in Graham would make a significant impact for their income.”

For more from this story see the Saturday, Feb. 2 edition of The Graham Leader.