GOP blocks bill to boost teacher recruitment, retention efforts

Sen. Millett’s bill would have fought turnover and burnout, raised teachers’ base pay

AUGUSTA — Sen. Rebecca Millett criticized Republicans in the Maine Senate for opposing a bill that would help Maine solve the demographic crisis in its teaching corps by bolstering state efforts to recruit and retain new teachers.

The bill was defeated along party lines in a 19-16 vote.

Sen. Millett’s bill — LD 1370, “An Act to Improve the Quality of Teachers” — addresses the dire need to recruit and retain teachers by increasing the base salary from $30,000 to $40,000; increasing the required number of in-classroom weeks for student teachers; and improving support for first-year teachers from experienced mentors in our schools.

“If we don’t address this crisis now, the future of our schools is dire,” said Sen. Millett. “By voting down this bill, opponents are guaranteeing future generations of students will learn in larger classes, will receive a less well-rounded education and will see diminished returns on their schooling. All this because they don’t want to pay teachers what they’re worth.”

In the next five-to-seven years, nearly one-third of Maine’s teachers will retire. Meanwhile, the pipeline of new teachers is far too small to replace all those who are leaving the profession. Shortages in the subjects of ESL, gifted/talented, industrial arts, math, science, special education and world languages are particularly pronounced.

Among those new teachers who do enter the profession, studies show that many will leave the profession within five years.

Maine’s average starting teacher salary lags far behind the rest of New England, and ranks 42nd nationwide. Low teacher salaries discourage students from entering the profession, and pulls down the lifetime earnings for teachers.

“My partner and I both have our masters degrees and are starting teaching careers,” said Jessica Allen, a graduate of USM who is entering the teaching profession. “But when we do our budget for the month, we’re at negative-$100. I love teaching, and I know that it’s a well-respected profession, but I cannot pay my rent or my substantial college debt with respect.”

The bill now heads to the House, for initial votes.

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