Both TSTA and I want to carry forward to the next Texas Legislature a statewide health insurance system to cover all 500,000 school employees that will meet the same standards as that enjoyed by state employees and provided by the State of Texas. As important as this coverage is to employees and to the quality of people recruited to work in the public schools, It will be extremely beneficial to local property owners in this area. As the attached charts show, health coverage is a major outlay for school district budgets. TSTA believes that raising teacher salaries to the national average, implementing a statewide system of health coverage, and enhancing the retirement system will go a long way in creating a desirable benefits package aimed at attracting and keeping quality people in our schools for the next decade. To that end we are already working to make these conditions a reality within the next two years.
School is off to a good start.
Teacher morale is the best in years and expectations are high for a good year at school. These conditions exist because of Senate Bill 4, and we want to take this opportunity again to thank the legislature, especially Chairman Paul Sadler and the House Education Committee, for their strong support of teachers and schools. We also want to thank the people of Texas for their unwavering support throughout the session. Poll after poll showed that 75 percent supported a teacher pay raise. It s no surprise that Spring Branch starts school with only 24 vacancies, the fewest in Harris County.