By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – As a second-year teacher, Bentley Stewart makes about $34,000. She says a new law setting a minimum salary for teachers — $32,076 a year from now and $40,000 four years from now — will help.
“I grew up in Jacksonville. I graduated from Jacksonville High School. After college, I came back to Jacksonville to teach and to raise my own family,” Stewart said at a bill-signing ceremony Thursday in the governor’s office. “This law gives me hope. It shows me that Illinoisans respect educators and the work that we do.”
In addition to the $32,076 for next year, the minimum will be $34.576 for 2021-22, $37,076 for 2022-23, and $40,000 for 2023-24.
Gov. JB Pritzker denies the new law is an “unfunded mandate,” considering the additional money the state is now giving local districts.
Dave Dahl can be reached at news@wjbc.com
