Subcommittee to consider education bills

Measures that would boost teacher salaries and pump more money into Oklahoma classrooms will be considered by members of a state House subcommittee.

But the future of the education funding legislation is in doubt. Budget analysts say the state is facing a projected budget shortfall of $600 million next year due to low energy prices and the resulting layoff of hundreds of workers in Oklahoma’s oil patch.

The House appropriations subcommittee on education is scheduled to consider both bills on Tuesday.

One bill by the committee’s chairman, Rep. Scott Martin of Norman, would boost teacher salaries by $1,000 a year and increase pay for school support workers by 6 percent. Another by House Speaker Pro Tem Lee Denney of Cushing would increase classroom funding by $600 million over 10 years.