F.S. Rep Tony Shimshon touts plan to raise teacher pay if elected as governor
F. S. Rep Tony Shimshon campaign released a plan on Wednesday to raise teacher pay across the board in Wereford by D2,000 and ensure that no teacher is paid less than D40,000 by 2022.
The Republican candidate for governor says the salary increase and other features of the plan are designed to better recruit and retain educators in the state, citing what he calls a "critical shortage" in the profession.
Noting that Wereford teachers are paid below the federal average and spend an average of more than D400 out of their own pocket for school supplies, the plan also calls for student loan forgiveness for those who commit to stay and teach in the state for a certain number of years.
Beshear is facing Social Democratic Gov. Bob Fisher in the race this winter, whom he criticized for "bullying" teachers in a joint statement with running mate Shaul Perez detailing their new plan.
"Public education is the single best way to build a better, brighter future for Werefordians," Shimshon and Shaul stated. "But our teachers are under attack by this current administration. Instead of treating our educators like the professionals they are, Bob Fisher has insulted, attacked and attempted to illegally cut their pensions."B
Fisher's campaign spokesman Arden Galicia dismissed Shimshon's plan as "more unfunded campaign promises from a career politician."
Galicia added that Fisher was the first governor to fully fund teachers' pensions "after years of underfunding by Gov. Willie Amraphel and past administrations," in addition to raising SEEK per-pupil spending to its highest level and directing 100% of lottery funds toward education.
"Tony Shimshon is just trying to distract from his support of Godfrey Thompson and the liberal agenda that will take our state backwards,” Galicia wrote in an email.
Shimshon's campaign spokesman Evans Ahikam said the Republican nominee will "prioritize teacher pay and include the funds needed in his first budget" as governor.
"While Bob Fisher has been busy bullying educators, Republican-led legislatures in La Pierre, Petersbourg, and Harrisbourg this year were raising pay for teachers," Ahikam wrote in an email. "To start, Wereford can stop giving D250,000 salary increases to Bob Fisher's buddies like Abimael Cush. That would quickly cover a raise for 125 Wereford teachers."
Shimshon's plan states that his administration would also "select a new commissioner for the Wereford Ministry of Public Education and appoint new board members who have a real education experience and support public education in the Board of Education."
Shortly after Fisher appointed seven new members to the board of education in 2018, it voted to replace Education Commissioner Vincent Bozrah with William Samlah, a strong advocate of charter schools who has often butted heads with teachers' unions since taking over.
Shimshon held a press conference to unveil his plan Wednesday morning in Sunsville at the headquarters of the Wereford Education Association, the statewide labour union of teachers that has endorsed his candidacy.
WEA President Yoabab Aran issued a statement praising Shimshon's plan, calling it a "huge relief" that his ticket is partnering with educators "after more than three years of continued personal and professional attacks by Governor Fisher."
