Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Higher pay for good grades?

State education superintendent to speak about salaries


By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

Tom Luna

Blaine County educators could see a boost to their bottom line in 2008 if a funding bill for education survives political hoops when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Citizens and educators interested in learning more about proposals for bonus pay can hear Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna speak tomorrow at the Golden Eagle Clubhouse, north of Hailey. The clubhouse is located at 110 Golden Eagle Drive North. The event, sponsored by Blaine County Republican Women, will be held from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m., with Luna speaking at 7 p.m.

Luna will be promoting a proposal for a new teacher pay system that builds on the current system. The proposal is called iSTARS (Idaho State Teacher Advancement and Recognition System). It attempts to build on existing base pay by putting emphasis on student performance and teacher training and leadership rather than tenure, according to promotional materials put out for the event.

"It was (Luna's) idea to be up here for this state-wide tour," said Suzan Stommel, a member of Blaine County Republican Women who is helping to coordinate the event. Stommel said Luna will meet with the Republican group on Friday for a private function, but the event on Thursday is intended to give the public a chance to meet with the superintendent.

"It's his plan to put Idaho (teachers' salaries) on track."

A House bill on teachers' salaries didn't get review during the last legislative session, but the iSTARS proposal came out of a House and Senate interim committee on teacher's salaries, said Melissa McGrath, public information officer for the Idaho State Department of Education.

Although Idaho ranks in the top 10 states for reading comprehension and the top 20 for math, according to the Nation's Report Card, Idaho ranks near the bottom with Utah in terms of dollars spent per pupil for education, McGrath said. The iSTARS program is intended to help change that statistic.

"The interim committee has been looking at alternatives," McGrath said.

The ideas Luna will discuss include layers of bonus pay that could be added cumulatively to base pay from $1,200 to $2,400 per layer. As proposed, fundamental raises to teachers based on experience and continuing education would remain in place, but bonuses could be added to salaries based on school improvement and overall school performance on the annual spring ISAT (Idaho State Achievement Test). All certified staff would qualify for school-wide bonuses if the school ranks high. Other rewards could come through teachers' leadership commitments, while other permanent bonuses could be put in place for educators with certifications in special areas and for individuals who fill positions deemed difficult to fill in a local district. Those bonuses would not be based on test scores.

"These bonuses could add $8,000 to a teacher's salary," McGrath said, explaining that if the final bill is signed by Governor "Butch" Otter even new teachers with a full array of certifications could have a substantially higher starting pay.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.