(a)
(1) The salary of any person connected with the Arkansas School for the Blind shall not be increased during the period for which he or she has been elected or employed.
(2) When any increase of salary is granted by the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind by this subsection, the increase shall take effect and be in force at the beginning of the next school term after the increase is granted.
(b) Teachers for the sensory impaired shall be eligible for an additional step increase after being certified in teaching the vision or hearing impaired by the Department of Education.
(c) The Arkansas School for the Blind is hereby authorized to pay employees hired in the position of teacher for the sensory impaired for the yearly school term the maximum annual salary rate established for each position.