Klinker attempt to establish Next Level Teachers Compensation Trust Fund refused by House Republicans

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette), Democratic member of the House Ways and Means Committee, yesterday (Jan. 18) attempted to establish the Next Level Teachers Compensation Trust Fund, which would help pay Indiana teachers the wages they deserve, as part of House Bill 1002.

Amendment 22 would have established the trust fund and required the State Budget Agency to transfer any amount of the state's combined reserve balance remaining at the end of the state fiscal year that is in excess of $2.5 billion to the fund.

As of 2020, Indiana ranks 38th in the nation for teacher pay, with an average teacher salary of $53,000.

“We are in the midst of a teacher crisis,” Klinker said. “Our talented educators are leaving the state for other job opportunities because we fail to pay them a living wage and also fail to show them the respect that their profession deserves.

“Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, Indiana has an unprecedented surplus that should be used to retain our state's teachers. We need to incentivize teachers to earn their master's degrees and to pursue additional professional development opportunities.

“My amendment would have provided an avenue to establish and maintain financial incentives for our teachers to continue working in our schools. I urge my fellow legislators from across the aisle to reconsider their actions and recommit to our state's educators.”

House Republicans defeated the amendment with a vote of 58-26.