BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – Republican State Rep. Mike Nathe of Bismarck has announced his bill that would offer teachers an annual bonus in an effort to recruit and keep them in North Dakota classrooms.
The Support Teachers and Youth Succeed stipend would be a $3,400 bonus for teachers who taught the full previous year who are under contract or retired at the end of the previous year.
It would be supported by 10% from the state’s common schools trust fund for two years and would only be for licensed educators.
Payments would be capped at 25% of the average teacher base salary and paid without affecting a teacher’s contracted pay or retirement calculations.
“The teacher shortage is a statewide workforce issue, and it deserves a statewide response. The STAYS stipend is an investment in keeping proven teachers in North Dakota, bringing qualified teachers into our classrooms, strengthening our workforce and giving every student the opportunity to learn from a qualified teacher,” Nathe said.
The bill has the backing of State Superintendent Levi Bachmeier and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden.
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