Commentary: The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday unanimously passed Senate Majority Whip Mimi Stewart’s bill, SB 47, to increase teacher salaries an additional $5,000 over two years. This increase would be in addition to the teacher pay raises included in SB 1.
“As a retired educator, I know how hard teachers work—both in their classrooms and to make ends meet at home,” Stewart said. “SB 47 sends a strong message to our educators that we value them and their work.”
SB 1, the landmark education funding bill, also sponsored by Stewart, that invests $315 million new dollars in New Mexico public education provides for teacher salaries to increase to $40,000 for Tier One, $50,000 for Tier Two and $60,000 for Tier Three. SB 47 provides for an additional increase, phased in over two years, to bring New Mexico teachers’ annual salaries to $45,000 for Tier One, $55,000 for Tier Two and $65,000 for Tier Three.
“Compensating teachers fairly for their skills and their work will help us keep top-notch teachers in our classrooms,” Stewart said.
Stewart further said that SB 47 was necessary to build on to the advances in SB 1 because there is no single legislative vehicle that can tackle all of the state’s education needs.
“SB1 isn’t the only education bill, it’s simply the first education bill that the Senate is considering,” Stewart said. “My bill to further increase teacher salaries is one of many other bills before the Senate to address the needs of our schools and the serious concerns brought to light by the Yazzie lawsuit.”
SB 47 now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
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A retired teacher, Senate Majority Whip Mimi Stewart has served two years as chair of the Legislative Education Study Committee. Prior to becoming a state Senator, Stewart served 20 years in the New Mexico House of Representatives, where she chaired the Education Committee. Stewart lives in Albuquerque. Learn more at www.mimistewart.org and follow her on Twitter @Sen_MimiStewart and on Instagram @mimistewart9.