Butler County Teachers React to Education Trust Fund

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Alabama House unanimously passed a new Education Trust Fund, with increases to the Pre-K program, cuts to classroom size, an increased textbook fund and even a raise for teachers.

Greenville Middle School band and drama teacher Chris Pryor said it has been a long time since his last raise.

“About 11 years ago, I think. About a decade, a little more than a decade, yes,” Pryor said.

Even a 4% raise would be a huge increase for him.

“Four percent can mean, classroom supplies. More classroom supplies!” Pryor laughed. “Even though I’m paying out of pocket for a lot of stuff, it still means more money to put back toward my kids. And my family.”

The fund will have a $6.3 billion dollar budget, and will also be used to provide funding for the teachers’ health insurance program and transportation budgets. Butler County Superintendent Amy Bryan said the funding would allow her to keep critical services in place.

“We don’t want to think about withholding services. Not having that bus route. We don’t want to think about not giving textbooks to our students,” Bryan said. “And that’s where we are. That’s the kinds of decisions that we have to make when there’s not funding for it.”

The raise is not just for teachers, however. Everyone employed in the school system will see a 4% raise if their yearly salary is less than $75,000. For those with a salary over $75,000, they will receive a 2% raise. Pryor said anything that helps the entire school system, is a good idea.

“Secretaries, and custodians and CNP workers, and aids, and special education aids, they’re the lifeblood of the school,” he said. “If we don’t have them, then we’re hurting. And we don’t need to be hurting.”

For more details on the Education Trust Fund, you can click here. The bill still has to be approved by the Alabama Senate.