Tomorrow at 4:30 pm, the Ohio House Education Committee will reconvene at the Statehouse to consider, among other legislation, House Bill 343, which was quickly amended this past week to eliminate the minimum salary schedule for teachers from state law.

The specific amendment is AM3586 and was adopted by the committee along straight party lines. The new bill is expected to be voted upon during tomorrow’s meeting. You can read our post about this proposed change: Ohio House Wants To Eliminate Minimum Salary Schedule For Teachers

If you are able to attend the meeting in person tomorrow and wish to testify in opposition to this change, the person to contact is Trint Hatt, the legislative aide to Committee Chair Gerald Stebelton:

TAKE ACTION TODAY

For those of you around the state who wish to have your voice heard and are unable to drop everything to come to Columbus, this is your opportunity to provide “written testimony” to the committee and have your comments become a part of the official record. This will ensure that your words are shared with every single member of the committee and posted on the House Education Committee website. These official records can assist those on the committee in making the case that this lame-duck change to what was otherwise a decent bill is completely unnecessary.

To provide written testimony, type up your statements in Microsoft Word or your preferred word processing program. Your letter should be addressed to Chair Stebelton, Ranking Member Fedor and Members of the House Education Committee and should be identified as specifically addressing House Bill 343 and Amendment 3586.

You will then need to email your letter — as an email attachment — to Trint.Hatt@ohiohouse.gov. In the subject line of your email, put Written Testimony for House Bill 343. Your testimony should then be added to the House Education Committee’s website and will be shared with all members of the committee.

We would also recommend copying Representative Teresa Fedor (Rep45@ohiohouse.gov) on your email. Fedor is the Ranking Minority Member on the committee. It would be helpful for her to be able to have immediate access to all of the feedback and ensure that our voices are heard.