Education majors pleased with wage raises

By Mike Billeter

Mirror Staff Writer
March 13, 2008

On Feb. 29, the South Dakota legislature approved a school-funding agreement that increases the salaries of South Dakota teachers by $3 million more than the $22.7 million originally proposed in the budget plan. While some would argue that this is still an inadequate increase in teacher pay, the funding is welcome by South Dakota teachers, who are the lowest paid in the country.

“I am thrilled that our state government is making progress in committing to and advocating higher salary compensation,” assistant professor of education Julie Ashworth said. “I am always hoping and advocating for advancing teacher pay in our state as it is difficult to recruit the brightest and the best into this profession, and it is really a challenge to retain them in South Dakota if we are the lowest paid state in the nation.”

Although the $3 million increase is not as much as lawmakers and teachers hoped for, it may be enough to keep some Augustana students interested in teaching positions in South Dakota.

“Now that the teachers’ salaries have gone up in South Dakota, it is almost even with some of the places I would have gone to back home in Minnesota,” senior elementary education and special education major Kati Newgard said. “I’m definitely going to apply in the Sioux Falls School District because I’m familiar with some of the schools here, and now that the disparity between the two states isn’t as bad, it is much more appealing to stay in South Dakota.”

An interesting element in the debate of teacher pay is the fact that elementary and high school students in South Dakota are strong academically. The state is still ranked last in the nation for teacher salaries. In this regard, the low salaries can be a major detriment to keeping talented educators in the state.

“We have some of the best test scores in the country and yet we do not invest in education to ensure every child gets the accomplished teacher he or she deserves,” Ashworth said.

For students who would like to stay in the state, the issue of salaries is important, though not necessarily the most important element to their choices.

“I don’t think the salary raise will affect my decision to stay in the state,” senior elementary education major Nick Jackson said. “I am going into education, so money isn’t exactly a major issue for me, and even with this raise we are still one of the lowest on the pay scale in regards to other states.”

Another facet of the decision-making is how much the various districts in the state support teachers regarding classroom resources and materials. Many teachers end up paying for project supplies and materials from their own salaries, which can be a frustration when the teacher salary.

“I think the important thing with that decision is picking a school that supports funding for materials versus a district that doesn’t cover those costs,” Jackson said. “It can be a lot of stress to pay for things out of your own pocket.”

The determining factors in a teacher’s salary raise are the number of students enrolled in the school and whether or not the school district adds to the state’s funding amount.