Superintendent Joy Hofmeister is requesting an additional $78 million for next year's education budget, despite projections of decreasing state revenue.
She says the Department of Education will need an addition $47 million to keep up with student population growth, and an addition $30 million for health care benefits for teachers that are mandated by law.
Hofmeister sais she realizes the state is hurting financially, but budget cuts, even a flat budget for education, would mean larger classes. And, she says, the cutting of some courses.
“We’re talking about things as basic as chemistry, calculus, and trig," she said.
The superintendent also included a $60 million addendum to her budget request—seeking a $1,000 pay raise for every teacher in the state. She said the teacher shortage will not be solved in a year, but this will be a good start.
