PHOENIX — Arizona House Republicans on Monday gave preliminary approval to $10,000 per year raises for public school teachers over the objections of Democrats who say the plan is a fake effort they know GOP lawmakers can’t fund in the long term.
But proponents of the measure by Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, said the pay boost will go a long way toward erasing low teacher pay that has helped lead to a statewide teacher shortage.
Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, noted a high school in her district is so short of teachers that a biology class has 77 students due to problems finding enough classroom instructors.
