Superintendents Express Concern Over State Funding

Superintendents from central Kentucky congregated last week at Scott County High School to discuss the far-reaching impact of House Bill 6 (HB6) on staff and teachers’ raises. Billy Parker, the Scott County Superintendent, presented a comprehensive breakdown of how HB6 may hurt efforts to secure fair wage increments. While the budget does not neglect significant issues such as investing in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) pension program or maintaining full-day Kindergarten funding, it does not address staff and teachers’ raises, which superintendents deem essential to combat the long-standing issue of teacher shortage.

Under Governor Andy Beshear’s proposed budget, school employees would see an 11% raise. Yet, with the present wording of HB6, all central Kentucky districts could only offer about a two percent raise in the 24-25 school year and virtually no raise in the 25-26 school year. Matt Moore, the superintendent of Jessamine County Schools, stated, “I think that everyone would agree that their work is very demanding, and they deserve a larger raise than what is being proposed right now.”

The Perplexity of State Funding for Schools

A substantial part of Kentucky’s funding for school districts comes from SEEK, or Support Education Excellence in Kentucky. SEEK, a blend of local property taxes and state funds, is a primary funding mechanism that school districts can use for raises. However, since 2001, state funding has dwindled, and local contributions have risen.

Even though there is an increase in per-pupil SEEK funding this school year, over the biennium, state funding will decrease by $42 million. The projected starting salary for employees at a district like Powell County Schools, even after an 11% raise, would still be $43,639.65, significantly lower than other comparable states starting salaries. This situation highlights a potential likelihood of local school districts being unable to provide a suitable raise given the current budget proposal.

Urgent Need for Better Funding Models

Rising living expenses have diminished the buying power of teachers’ salaries, leaving them at a disadvantage. A lack of substantial adjustments in allocations or increases in funding for wage raises could put local communities and school districts in a difficult position. Many wonder how to attract and retain quality staff under these conditions.

The Kentucky Association of School Superintendents has proposed a solution, calling on the state to reinvest SEEK excess in K-12 education during the current school year. Superintendents are also advocating for the state to continue its commitment to the teacher pension scheme while seeking ways to provide more recurring funding for raises. This proactive approach might lead to a 7.1% raise in the 2024-2025 school year and a 6.7% raise in the 2025-2026 school year if implemented.

As HB6 makes its way through the Senate, these school leaders and community members hope their calls for change will lead to a more equitable result for Kentucky’s dedicated teachers and staff.