Proposal would give bonuses to teachers

Teachers who work at small schools, and stay there, would receive bonuses under a plan proposed by a Kansas City representative.

House Bill 2430, sponsored by Democrat Jason Holsman, would pay teachers a recruitment bonus of $5,000 to work in a small district. Math and science teachers would get $7,500.

After five, 10 and 20 years in the district, the teacher would receive a retention bonus of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 respectively.

"We all agree that being 44th in the nation for teacher pay is unacceptable. The question becomes what's the best way to fix it," Holsman said.

House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, proposed raising the minimum teacher salary from $23,000 to $31,000, with pay increasing with experience. A public hearing was held March 12, but the bill, No. 2040, is not currently on the House calendar.

Critics opposed the cost of Jetton's bill, estimated at $87 million, and others said suburban schools, many already paying the proposed new minimum, would not benefit.

"We want to do something for all our districts. The whole point is to recruit and retain," Holsman said.

His plan would also offer stipends to recruit teachers to work in unaccredited schools and stipends for teachers who work in a district that moves from unaccredited to accredited. Another main component of the bill is an award that would be given to teachers and administrators based on performance. School participation in the program would be voluntary.

"Keeping teachers in the five- to 10-year range would be beneficial," said Adrian Eftink, the principal of Oak Ridge Elementary. He said general classroom teachers tend to stick around, especially at the elementary level, but said "speech, art and PE teachers seem to move around. Special ed is extremely transient in small districts," he said.

The Missouri State Teachers Association started a campaign in the fall in support of teacher pay increases, and strongly backs Jetton's bill. Mike Wood, a lobbyist for the association, said that while Holsman's bill will put money in teacher's pockets, he's "not sure it is the right way ... A teacher in Woodland making $27,000 would be a whole lot better making $31,000." He questioned whether a $2,500 stipend would keep someone in the district for five years. However, the organization has officially stated it will support legislators who intend to raise teacher salaries.

Holsman's bill was referred to committee March 19, and a hearing has not been scheduled. The House approved a budget this week. If either Holsman or Jetton's bill passes, an appropriation could be added in the Senate, or the House could write a supplemental appropriations bill.

Holsman recognizes legislators have "a budget problem right now that may be difficult to overcome." However, he said, "there is no question there is a broad consensus that 44th is unacceptable and it is going to cost money to fix it." He estimates the bill would cost $70 million the first year.

The bill is bipartisan, Holsman said, noting that Jetton also worked on it. He also noted that the stipend-for-performance aspect of the bill would be building-wide, so teachers would not be competing against each other.

Teachers would vote whether they wanted to participate, and the school board would develop an evaluation plan, based on test scores or teacher performance.

Dr. Ron Anderson, superintendent of the Jackson School District, said that historically performance pay is not well-supported by teachers. He said, however, that many states are implementing programs by choice, and that "I think down the road we will see new things come along. We'll have to look at them closely to see how they would fit before we decide whether to support or not support."

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

On the Web n Read the full text of the bill proposed by House Speaker Rod Jetton at www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/bills/HB2040.HTM.