TOLEDO, Ohio — Ohio Democrats last week introduced House Bill 411, which would raise the teacher base salary in the state from $35,000 to $50,000 a year.
This is welcome news for Maylin Majewski, who is studying education at the University of Toledo. She's a senior and currently student teaches at a local school.
"It's a hard job and we are impacting the next generation, and we deserve a little more," she said. "Any raise would be beneficial because I think teachers really work hard, even after hours when they're not getting paid, but they have to do extra work."
Toledo Reps. Elgin Rogers and Michele Grim are co-sponsors of the bill, to raise the salary.
The bill, which would amend Ohio Revised Code 3317.13, includes all teachers employed by a school district. That includes vocational and teachers employed by any educational service center governing board.
"Teachers currently often don't have the resources, needed to take care of their families, while their taking care of other families," said Rep. Elgin Rogers (D-Toledo).
Rogers, a co-sponsor of the bill, believes it could help with the teacher shortage in Ohio. But he admits some house members have concerns about where the money would come from.
"I would argue that you pay for it by taking back some of the money that you're giving to some of these non-public institutions and schools for vouchers," Rogers said.
Kadee Anstadt, superintendent of Washington Local Schools, said it would be hard to implement the raise statewide because the cost of living isn't equal everywhere and it could be a financial burden on smaller communities.
Still, Majewski said more money would be nice. But that's not why she wants to become a teacher.
"We definitely don't do it for the money," Majewski said. "We love the students and we love to see the future be brighter."
Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) provided WTOL 11 with the following statement:
"It’s important that we recruit and retain excellent, qualified teachers, and one key to that is quality pay.
We need the best and brightest teachers in the classroom helping educate the next generation. Unfortunately school districts are now competing with entry-level jobs at fast food restaurants with starting hourly wages pushing $20.00 an hour.
As a parent, I am grateful for the investment our children’s teachers make in their lives on a daily basis."
HB 411 has only been introduced in the House. It would still need to go through various committees in both the Senate and House before a vote would take place.