Press Release
January 14, 2008
 Representative Kristi Noem announced today that she will be filing legislation that will set a statewide minimum teacher salary and allow TCAP funding to be used for that purpose. School districts will have 5 years to comply with the standard, but will need to file a plan with the Department of Education to reach that goal.

“Right now the bill sets the statewide minimum teacher salary at $30,000 per year. The schools will have the ability to set their own payment schedules for staff, but this puts a floor on the process.” Says Rep. Noem  This legislation seeks to make the state partners with the districts in that some of the funding for this change will be allowed to come from the current TCAP program. “The TCAP funds last year were used in a variety of ways by the districts to help increase teacher compensation. Some districts found the funds difficult to apply for and use. Many times it required extra time to be put in by the teaching staff to utilize the funds. What I am hoping to do is streamline this process and allow those districts who will need to address their base pay to use these funds to do so. It is a Win-Win situation for all involved,” continues Rep. Noem. “It will also allow the districts 5 years to make the change, so as not to put them in a financial bind by placing them in a time crunch, as this is not a fully funded piece of legislation.” 

This legislation seeks to make the state partners with the districts in that some of the funding for this change will be allowed to come from the current TCAP program. “The TCAP funds last year were used in a variety of ways by the districts to help increase teacher compensation. Some districts found the funds difficult to apply for and use. Many times it required extra time to be put in by the teaching staff to utilize the funds. What I am hoping to do is streamline this process and allow those districts who will need to address their base pay to use these funds to do so. It is a Win-Win situation for all involved,” continues Rep. Noem. “It will also allow the districts 5 years to make the change, so as not to put them in a financial bind by placing them in a time crunch, as this is not a fully funded piece of legislation.”  

The bill will only address teacher’s salaries for K-12 education and the TCAP funds cannot be used for any salaries except certified teachers. Administration salaries are also not available for the funding. Rep. Noem has spent most of the week contacting all the school districts in the state to research their current salary schedules and bases set. She has also enlisted the help of several interns to complete the project so the legislation can be filed in a timely manner. Rep. Noem continues, “I want to be sure the $30,000 base salary projection is accurate and achievable statewide. That number may be a little fluid for the next couple of days, until all the information has been gathered.”

 

“I believe this is a visionary piece of legislation for the State of South Dakota. What it is saying is that the people of this state believe that our teachers deserve to earn a decent wage for the hard work and effort they extend to our children every day. This legislation will ensure that South Dakota remains competitive in attracting excellent qualified teachers by continuing to offer market wages in return for their investment in our children.” says Rep. Noem.