The 2022 New Mexico Legislature has approved $3.8 billion to pay for raises for educators, as well as funding for indigenous language programs and expanding community schools. The 30-day session ended Feb. 17.
It was a pro-education session, with $10,000 pay increases for teachers receiving unanimous approval in both the state Senate and House of Representatives. Legislators were persuaded by reports of drastic teacher shortages across the state.
Under this law, starting teachers will be paid $50,000 instead of $40,000, middle-tiered teachers will go from $50,000 to $60,000 in base pay, and teachers at the top tier will receive a base pay of $70,000, up from $60,000.
Principals and assistant principals also will receive pay increases.
The legislative action could help fill a staffing shortage of more than 1,000 teachers statewide.
It’s good news for new Public Education Department Secretary Kurt Steinhaus, whose appointment was approved by the state Senate on Feb. 2.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Steinhaus “is exactly the advocate that schools, educators, kids and families need and deserve.” Grisham said he has “the respect of educators, stakeholders and advocates from around the state.”
Steinhaus, who took the reins of the department last fall, issued a statement following the 37-4 vote to confirm his appointment.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to help provide leadership across New Mexico," he said. "It’s a job I’ve been working toward my whole career. As secretary, I consider it my responsibility to serve as the state’s instructional leader and chief executive officer for education while working closely with school leaders and the community, and setting a tone and defining the strategic direction for student success.”
Steinhaus began his career as a classroom teacher in 1976 for the Alamogordo Public Schools, rising to department chair. He later worked for the state Department of Education and then the Public Education Department, finally serving as superintendent of Los Alamos Public Schools until May 2021.
Steinhaus said he was pleased by the support shown to educators during the 2022 session.
“We are incredibly grateful that these legislators understand the tremendous need for another significant investment in pre-K through higher education and targeted programs to ensure equitable opportunities for every New Mexican child,” he said Feb. 3 after an appropriations bill cleared the House with money dedicated to schools.
Meanwhile, a bill to prohibit the teaching of so-called “critical race theory” in public schools was defeated by a party-line vote of 10-4 in the New Mexico House Rules and Order of Business Committee, with the Democratic majority killing the proposal. The Public Education Department said CRT is not being taught in New Mexico classrooms, nor in most public schools throughout the nation.
Whitney Holland, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico, noted in an online update to AFT members and supporters that the Conference Committee, made up of three senators and three representatives, left educational funding initiatives intact.
Holland, in her first session as president of the union, listed a number of top-level highlights of the budget.
Teacher tier minimums are funded for $50,000, $60,000 and $70,000 for levels I-III, respectively.
Additional compensation increases for educators (3%) in districts who participate in Extended Learning Time Programs or K5+.
No language mandating extended learning or K5+, which keeps these decisions in local communities, based on educator, parent, and school board input.
Funding for the State Equalization Guarantee to provide a $15 per hour minimum wage for K-12 hourly employees.
Funding to provide a $15 per hour minimum wage for higher education hourly employees.
Funding for a 3% Q4 salary increase beginning April 1 for all public school personnel, including transportation and higher-education staff.
Funding for an additional 4% average salary increase for all public school personnel in fiscal year 2023, including transportation and higher-education staff.
The 7% total compensation funding, according to the state education department, includes enough for third party contracted public educators (most often transportation services). Those contracting districts would be able to cover those increases when contracts are placed for bids.
$10 million to use as flexible pay for increases at local levels, including hard-to-staff positions, and to combat compaction issues, which could include equalizing salary increases for ancillary staff in schools.
$32 million for an additional 1% employer-paid contribution to the educator pension fund (ERB).
$43 million for culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional materials for eligible students, including dual-credit instructional materials and educational technology.
$10 million for career technical education initiatives and equipment.
$15.5 million for increased funding for paid residencies for incoming educators and stipends for student teachers.
$8 million for increased implementation of New Mexico Community Schools.
$50 million for endowed faculty positions at educator preparation programs at New Mexico public and tribal higher education institutions.
$50 million for endowed faculty positions in bachelor and master’s degree social worker programs at New Mexico public and tribal institutions of higher education.
$63 million for the Opportunity Scholarship, which seeks to provide free public higher education for all New Mexico students.
$500,000 continued funding of the Grow Your Own Educators Act.
Holland also celebrated the passage of House Bill 13/aa, which expands efforts to grow a paid teacher residency program for aspiring teachers who wish to enter the profession.
She said she was pleased by the passage of House Bill 57/a to hold transportation funding through 2023 to preserve sufficient transportation resources for local school districts to provide full and adequate services during the ongoing pandemic.
Finally, Holland said House Bill 73/a eases restrictions on return-to-work rules for retired educators.
“Specifically, this legislation would allow a retired educator to return to the classroom and continue keeping their pension after a three-month (90 day) layout period,” she said. “Should a retired educator choose to return to work, they would be limited to serving for 36 months.”
There were some defeats.
Holland pointed to Senate Bill 132, sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo County), which would institute a minimum salary for educational assistants and would ensure that all educational assistants make a minimum of $20,000 annually.
Senate Bill 1010, sponsored by Sen. Harold Pope Jr. (D-Albuquerque), would provide additional health-care coverage for New Mexico educators who are under the NMPSIA insurance plan.
Holland said educators and their supporters tried but could not find the funding sources to get these bills passed.
Senate Bill 7/cs, sponsored by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-Albuquerque), would have instituted a $15 per hour minimum wage for state employees, including K-12 hourly employees and higher education hourly employees.
“The appropriation for these increased salaries is currently in the budget for fiscal year ’23, but only for the next fiscal year,” Holland said.
She said while time ran out on this bill, “we are confident that this legislation will be reintroduced next legislative session.”
It’s on to the next battle, with a look back at the just-concluded session. There are still a few details to attend to, Holland said.
“The 2022 30-day legislative session is now over, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has until March 9 to sign or veto each piece of legislation which has passed,” she said. “Our union will now advocate directly with the governor to ensure that each hard-fought piece of legislation is signed into law.”
Holland also expressed admiration for the lawmakers.
“On behalf of AFT New Mexico, we’d also like to thank each legislator for their time, efforts and support during this session,” she said. “We recognize the sacrifices made by our citizen legislators and thank them for their service to New Mexico.”