School administrators are concerned about the House budget plan and what it spends on public education.

They say it's not enough to give the pay increases needed to attract and keep faculty and staff.

Our Laura Rogers talked to superintendents in southern Kentucky who say they compete with districts in Tennessee that pay a lot more.

Think think the legislators have done a good job in recognizing and listening to school district superintendent, school boards, the kids of public school at the K groups.

So I commend them for taking a first step forward.

But I still think there's more to be done.

Superintendent of Christian County Public Schools Chris Benson, says he's hoping for a compromise when it comes to funding for public education.

We've always said the additional funding will go to teacher salaries, classified salaries, increases to retain the best teachers we can.

That has the biggest effect size on student achievement.

Warren County Public School Superintendent Rob Clayton echoing that sentiment.

We know that the key to our success is who are able to attract and hire into this profession.

And with each year that has passed by, we continue to fall further and further behind the competition.

The competition includes Tennessee, who passed legislation raising the minimum teacher pay to $50,000 by the year 2026.

The state line just a half hour away from Bowling Green and Hopkinsville.

We've done a lot of things to incentivize the teaching profession.

Just simply bring it back.

Teach a voice and respect to the profession.

We've provided child care in our district for our employees, and we've opened our own pre-K center for two, three and four years.

We've offered degree completion programs.

We've offered a bonus.

All of those measures to combat the teacher shortage.

But that all comes back to competitive pay.

New all summer.

I don't think there's any doubt that this won't move the needle and the current shortage will continue.

We need a significant shift in how we're funding our schools.

It may be that shift to may also include revamping the sick formula to account for inflation and accommodating groups such as low income families, English language learners and special education.

The seat base, which is what funds our students on a per pupil basis, needs to be increased significantly.

He says the current proposed increase of $255 per student over the next two years isn't enough, adding to what Clayton calls a decade of underfunding for public education.

Our state economy is the best that many of us could save our lifetime, and we've waited patiently for more than a decade of the concerns and not enough funding.

Now the funding's here, and it's time to make some corrections and take care of our people who are taking care of our students each and every day.

At the end of the day, it's about for us and it's about paying teachers more.

BINZEL says that means closing the inflationary gap, offering teachers a starting pay of $45,000 a year, which would also raise compensation for other school employees.

I think that's the cornerstone of any district, is a foundation of any district, any community is our public schools.

Both administrators say they will continue to advocate for public education and are optimistic about the future when before not.

But it's a good one.

For Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you so much, Laura.

The superintendents tell us that fully funding transportation will be a big help as it's outlined in the House budget plan.

Superintendent Rob Clayton says since 2005, Warren County public schools have had to offset those expenses by dipping into the district's general fund.