Bill offering false solutions to teacher shortage not heard in the House
02/01/2016
HB 1004 (Rep. Bob Behning, R – Indianapolis) passed on his chance to bring this bill for a vote on 2nd reading. He has one last opportunity to on Tuesday. ISTA will continue to oppose the bill.
We urge everyone to continue writing their representatives using our advocacy program.
HB 1004 allows school administrators to unilaterally offer extra pay to teachers in difficult to fill position, in addition to their negotiated salary. This open-ended clause is short-sighted, unaccountable, and a huge retraction from the 2011 collective bargaining bill that pledged salary, wages, and wage-related items would remain bargainable.
Extra pay for a few teachers at the expense of most is not a solution. HB 1004 also offers up a 401(k)-style defined contribution teacher retirement program as an alternative to their existing defined benefit pension/annuity plan.
Cutting pay for the majority of teachers and setting up a riskier retirement program for the employee will only worsen the teacher shortage, and hurt kids counting on a caring and qualified teacher in their classroom.
Please continue telling legislators to vote “no" on HB 1004.