BISMARCK -- Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple and teachers in the state asked the House Education Committee Tuesday to put money back into education funding bills to give teachers another state-funded raise.
The schools asked the committee to just put more money into schools. They prefer to have it in per-pupil payments known as "foundation aid."
"Some of this needs to be targeted to teachers," Dalrymple said, testifying for Gov. John Hoeven, who wants every teacher to get a $1,500 raise in the next two years. "Otherwise, we're going to lose the ground we've already gained."
Hoeven succeeded in getting a $3,000 raise over two years for every teacher during the 2001 Legislature, but he wants another increase for them.
When the Senate passed Senate Bill 2154 last month, it stripped out that section -- $14.4 million. Some of it -- less than $3 million -- was shifted to other education payments and about $11.5 million was deleted altogether in a budget-balancing move. Per-pupil payments to schools will still increase because of declining enrollment statewide.
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"I am here this morning to ask you to restore $13.5 million," said Fargo School Board President Dan Fremling. "The restoration of funds is imperative."
He said he will take part in the first meeting of his district's teacher salary negotiations next week "and if we don't get those dollars restored back into (Senate Bill) 2154, it will be the first and last meeting."
Fremling and West Fargo School District business manager Mark Lemer said they want the money put back in the form of higher per-pupil payments.
Lemer said extra payments to teachers does nothing to solve the equity problems in the state funding of schools. Some districts are planning a lawsuit over education funding inequities.
"You don't want anything in teacher salaries?" asked Rep. Clark Williams, D-Wahpeton, a retired teacher and school administrator.
"We need the flexibility in the funds," Lemer said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Janell Cole at (701) 224-0830
