SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Education Secretary Hanna Skandera wants to increase starting salaries for public school teachers by $2,000 to $36,000 next year to better compete with neighboring states.
The 6 percent pay increase would apply to nearly 3,700 new teachers in the fall of 2017 if funding is approved by the Legislature.
An earlier effort by Gov. Susana Martinez's administration to boost base pay by $2,000 was approved by the Legislature during the 2015 session.
Skandera on Thursday urged members of the Legislative Finance Committee to combine the increase in base pay with strategic salary increases for the state's top performing teachers.
Skandera is proposing to double funding for one performance-based incentive program to $15 million.