State Rep. Henry Ingwersen
As a new legislator in Augusta, you quickly realize that your life is defined by bells. One bell sounds to summon us to the chamber; another reminds members that it’s time to vote. For some, this sound is jarring and uncomfortable, but having been a teacher in York County for close to three decades, I am used to starting my day with the sound of a bell.
Each morning as I enter the House chamber, I think about the thousands of teachers across our state that are simultaneously entering their classrooms and starting their school days.
In Augusta, we hear a lot these days about ways to bolster our state’s future. Some say tax incentives will boost our economic output, others argue for decreasing energy costs. While those strategies may contribute to our economic success, we cannot forget the role that teachers play in providing our state with a stable economic foundation.
A teacher plays many roles for their students: mentor, counselor, educator and advocate; but they also serve as the first step in the workforce development continuum. A student that is given a strong mathematics foundation at Mildred Day School may become the next engineer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. A student who has an impactful social studies teacher at Lyman Elementary may be a future lawyer at the Superior Court in Alfred.
The value that we place on our teachers is, in many senses, the value that we place on our state’s future. It has been nearly 15 years since Maine last raised our state’s minimum teacher salary. Today, Maine teachers earn the lowest average salary of any state in New England, and our state is ranked 33rd in the nation for teacher compensation. A 2014 study found that 25% of Maine’s teachers are forced to take on a second or third job to pay for their living expenses. At the same time, teachers are being forced to pay for classroom supplies out of their own pockets.
Our educators deserve better. No teacher should have to choose between their desire to educate and their need for financial stability.
As a member of the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs committee, I have reviewed many of the bills before the Legislature that relate to teachers’ compensation. As a believer in our economic future and a supporter of public education, I was proud to recently support LD 405, sponsored by Rep. Tori Kornfield of Bangor. This legislation will increase the state minimum teacher salary to $40,000 per year and provide much needed support to our state’s educators.
Some may argue that this increase will cause a burden to local school districts. After reviewing Governor Mills’ budget, however, it is clear that this will not be an unfunded mandate. Without raising taxes, the Governor’s budget allocates $126 million investment to Maine’s K-12 education system. This includes funding for a teacher pay increase. Our teachers can be paid a competitive salary, without property taxpayers feeling a crunch.
We owe it to our children, and our state’s future, to ensure that Maine’s schools have the most qualified teachers possible. And in order to attract the best teachers to our state, we must provide them a competitive wage. I’ll continue to fight for our future generations in Augusta. I hope that I will have your support.
Rep. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, is serving his first term in the Maine House. He represents District 10, which includes the towns of Arundel, Dayton and part of Lyman.
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