Idaho House Panel Kills $125 Million Teacher Pay Bill

BOISE (KTVB) -- The Idaho Legislature will likely extend past its targeted March 27 end-date now that a House panel has killed a long-awaited proposal to boost teacher pay.

The panel's decision on Wednesday came at the same time the state's budget committee announced it would delay setting the education budget. The joint committee's chairmen cited uncertainty over the teacher pay bill for pushing back their budget setting.

Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, who chairs the House Education Committee, says he plans to introduce a new bill in the coming days. DeMordaunt wouldn't say what changes he's considering, but teachers have raised concerns with the bill's original proposed accountability measures.

The plan would have cost $125 million over five years by increasing salaries for first-year teachers from $31,750 to $37,000.