Kim Stichnote has been a teacher for more than 15 years. She has taught hundreds of students and walked the halls of Boone County High School thousands of times. As a math teacher, she loves numbers, but there's one equation that just doesn't add up.

"It all depends on how you measure success," said Stichnote. "If you measure success in dollars than this is a very hard profession to be in."

Missouri lawmakers are fighting over a bill that raises salaries for teachers like Stichnote.

Missouri ranks 42nd among teacher's salaries in the United States. A first-year teacher at a school like Boone County High School can expect to make around $24,000. If House Bill 2040 passes, that base salary could increase as much as $6,000. Besides raising the minimum teaching salary, the bill also increases salary for every three years' experience. The plan would cost the state about $67 million, a price that the Missouri State Teachers Association said is worth it.

"We think it's a good investment on education and improving teachers salaries will in turn relate to higher student achievement," Director of Government Relations for MSTA Mike Wood said.

A disagreement over a provision in the bill had lawmakers physically fighting one another on the House floor Thursday morning. House Majority Leader Steven Tilley said he will not allow the legislation to be brought to a vote until the bill is revised.