Reject Bills That Arm School Staff and Slash Teacher Pay

I urge you to oppose HB1363, SCS HB232, and SCS HB607, which collectively undermine public education, educator well-being, and student safety. HCS HB607 (Teacher Salaries): Missouri’s ability to recruit and retain educators hinges on competitive salaries. Last year, lawmakers made progress by passing SB 727 to address chronic underpayment. HB607 reneges on those commitments by delaying inflation adjustments until 2030 and capping state support for salary grants at 50% after 2030. This forces districts to shoulder the financial burden alone, despite the legislature’s promise to prioritize teacher pay. Missouri already struggles to compete with neighboring states; weakening these investments will exacerbate the teacher shortage. This bill demands “hard conversations” about funding but shifts responsibility to districts instead of upholding the state’s role. Teachers deserve stability—not backtracking. Additionally, HB 607’s ban on three-cueing reading instruction risks limiting educators’ flexibility to meet diverse student needs, despite evidence that multiple strategies support literacy. HB 1363 (Charter School Property Transfers): This bill prioritizes charter schools over traditional public schools by mandating districts lease or sell property to charters. Public schools are community anchors; forcing asset transfers risks stripping districts of vital resources without guarantees charters will serve all students equitably. Taxpayer-funded property should remain under accountable, democratically governed systems. SCS HB232 (School Safety): Expanding “school protection officers” to include any employee—and authorizing concealed firearms—introduces preventable risks. Arming staff without rigorous, standardized training endangers students and educators. Active shooter drills are unfortunately necessary in this atmosphere of rampant gun violence, but prioritizing weaponization over proven solutions like mental health supports and violence prevention programs is misguided. Annual training mandates also strain educators’ time and district resources. Missouri’s students and educators deserve better. Reject HB363’s inequitable property policies, SCS HB232’s dangerous arming of staff, and HB607’s betrayal of teacher pay promises. Invest in competitive salaries, equitable resources, and evidence-based safety measures. Keep the legislature’s commitments intact.