Members of the state’s education reform task force are brainstorming a career ladder program to raise salaries for beginning teachers and veteran teachers alike. The plan would increase the starting teacher salary to $40,000, a 29 percent increase from current $31,000. Teachers at the top of the salary grid would be in line for a similar 29 percent increase — from $46,537 to $60,000. Teachers also would be eligible for “leadership awards” that would further boost pay. The cost of the plan: $35 million to $43 million a year for the first five years. This translates to about 3 percent of the current general fund budget for K-12/Kevin Richert, The EDge, IdahoED News. More here.

Question: What? The Education Reform Task Force is discussing a career ladder to boost teacher pay.?! Is the task force loaded with Democrats and RINOs?