Teacher salaries in Mississippi are among the lowest in the country, but they are about to get a bit of a boost after passage of a bill in the state Legislature.
House Bill 852 would add $1,000 annually to the base salary of teachers and teacher assistants in Mississippi public schools, beginning in the 2021-2022 school year.
The state House originally passed the bill in February on a 117-3 vote with state Rep. Dana Criswell (R-Olive Branch) among the three who voted against the measure.
The bill was sent to the state Senate, where it passed with amendments March 4 on a 52-0 vote, requiring the bill to be returned to the House to be considered with the Senate amendments attached.
The House Thursday, March 18, passed the bill with the amendments on a 119-2 vote, with Criswell joining state Rep. Joel Bomgar (R-Madison) as the two legislators voting against the measure.
Gov. Tate Reeves has said he would sign the bill, once it reaches his desk.
According to Business Insider, Mississippi public school teacher salaries rank last in the nation with an average annual paycheck of $45,574. The national average was $61,730 for the 2018-2019 academic year. New York teachers earn nearly $86,000 a year, the most among the United States.
House Bill 852 would add $1,000 to the base salary of public school teachers. The minimum salary for teacher assistants would become $15,100 a year.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
