Teachers Could Earn 40% More By Extending School Year

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) A measure providing incentives to Utah school districts to adopt a year round class schedule passed the Senate today. Republican Senator Howard Stephenson of Draper says the move could mean a 40% pay raise for teachers.

"I believe that we can no longer stay in the 19th century," says Stephenson. "If we are going to provide a reasonable salary for all of our teachers, we need to change the way we are doing business."

Stephenson says teachers would have the option of working year round. He adds the year round schedule would help solve the state's teacher shortage because not as many new teachers would be needed. Senate Bill 41 appropriates $32 million for fiscal year 2008-09 from the Uniform School Fund. The State School Board would be responsible for choosing the districts that receive the grant money.

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