ATLANTA — At his first address to business leaders since taking the oath of office, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp promised to address issues for the state's schools at the Georgia Chamber's annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast Wednesday morning in Atlanta.
As part of his early platform, Kemp previewed "historic" pay raises for teachers, money for security at each school and mental health counselors in schools.
The state of Georgia has remained competitive among southern states in an average teacher salary of $55,532, but since the close of the recession, the state has lagged behind the national average of $59,660.
"To ensure a bright future in our state, we must invest in those who educate, inspire and lead our students. As I've said many times, approximately 44 percent of our teachers leave the profession before five years," Kemp said. "Tomorrow, I will announce a historic and well-deserved pay raise for our educators."
As a candidate, Kemp had promised to permanently raise teacher salaries by $5,000 annually, to be funded by existing revenues.
Following up with an ongoing drumbeat that he walked to during the campaign, Kemp talked about security within the state's schools.
"We also must prioritize school safety," the governor said. "The classroom should be a safe haven for students, not hunting grounds for school shooters. In the amended budget for 2019, I have included $69 million in one-time funds for school security grants. All 2,294 public schools in our state will receive $30,000 for implementation of security measures by local school administrators, local school boards, teachers, parents and students."
Kemp reached out to those who have repeatedly insisted that an increase in mental health awareness was key in helping to prevent violence in the schools and in the overall health of students in a portion of his speech.
"To keep schools safe, we also must address mental health in the classroom. Many of these issues lead to school violence," Kemp said. "Tomorrow, during the State of the State, I will detail plans to put mental health counselors in the schools. These mental health professionals will engage with students and help provide the resources needed to help prevent disruptive, aggressive and potentially violent behavior."
Kemp's announcements were met with strong applause from the audience at the gathering.