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Proposal's aim: Retain teachers, attract more
Gov. Jeb Bush wants 30,000 new teachers. He'll pay more and give more to get them.
Associated Press
Published January 24, 2006
MIAMI - Mathematics and science teachers would get extra pay and all Florida public schoolteachers would get laptop computers under a proposal announced Monday by Gov. Jeb Bush.
The proposal, aimed at luring about 30,000 new teachers to Florida and retaining those working in the state, also calls for inducements such as an education minor in state colleges and more money for college loan reimbursements.
The $239-million package will be presented in March to the Legislature for approval.
Bush visited North Miami Middle School to outline the state's challenge of adding tens of thousands of teachers while dealing with attrition, student population growth and a voter-approved amendment requiring a reduction in class sizes through 2010.
Under a $40-million grant program, districts would submit retention and recruitment plans to the Department of Education, which would match the funds. Incentives could include signing bonuses, housing assistance and payment of student loans.
Bush also proposed that each district negotiate a pay scale, with more compensation going to teachers in subjects where there are shortages.
"If we have a shortage of teachers in math and science, we should pay those teachers more," Bush said.
The proposal includes an increase from about $1.8-million to $9.7-million for the Critical Teacher Shortage Program, which reimburses teachers for up to $10,000 in student loans and for college credits in shortage subject areas.
Mark Pudlow, spokesman for Florida Education Association, the state teachers union, pointed out that base teacher salaries and pensions were not addressed.
Some Democratic legislators criticized the proposal and urged Republicans to consider raising teacher salaries in addition to Bush's plan, which Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, D-Miami, called "a short-term fix."
Teachers in attendance Monday liked the idea for laptop computers. Bush said they would be paid for with $188-million in nonrecurring revenues from slot machines, which Broward County voters approved for use in parimutuel facilities.
[Last modified January 24, 2006, 00:55:20]
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