Corn Pushes for Increase in Teacher Pay/Dependant Coverage

Legislation has been introduced by Sen. Kenneth Corn that would provide a significant increase in pay and benefits for Oklahoma teachers.

Senate Bill 80 would increase the minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma teachers, while Senate Bill 58 would provide all education employees with 75 percent of their dependant coverage.

The Legislature was successful last year in passing a $3,000 across-the-board pay increase for teachers, but Oklahoma needs to keep pace with an increasing regional average, Corn said.

“By putting together a plan to meet the regional average, we can keep our best and brightest teachers in Oklahoma classrooms,” said Corn, D-Poteau. “While we were able to pass a pay increase last year, other states are doing the same. It’s important that we make progress every year.”

The measure would increase minimum salaries and provide incremental pay raises dependant upon experience level. Additionally, the bill would extend the current teacher pay scale by five years to help keep more experienced teachers in the classroom.

With the exception of education employees, all state employees are currently provided with 75 percent of their dependant coverage. Corn’s measure would extend this benefit to teachers and support staff, providing an additional incentive for the state’s best educators to remain in Oklahoma schools.

“We want to treat our educators and support staff equally regarding their health benefits and let them keep money that would otherwise be going to their health insurance company,” Corn said. “People often focus on salary but I think benefits such as health insurance and retirement benefits are equally important for our teachers.”