School Bonus plan pays $10.6-million

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 1, 2007

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Tampa  

More than 4,000 Hillsborough educators found bonuses of more than $2,100 in their paychecks Friday.

The performance pay awards were granted through the state Merit Award Program, or MAP. Recipients were determined by a variety of factors, including student performance on standardized tests and their evaluations. In all, Hillsborough educators split $10.6-million in bonuses.

Teachers did not have to apply for the state program, which is in its first year and has proven controversial elsewhere. The teachers union in Pinellas County rejected the rewards outright, and Pasco teachers have not yet approved a plan.

In Hillsborough, the money was divided equally among approximately 4,640 educators, schools spokesman Stephen Hegarty said. The recipients include more than 2,700 teachers, about 1,300 guidance counselors and support personnel and nearly 600 school administrators.

The recipients

To see which Hillsborough teachers received merit pay, check out the list at hillsborough.tampabay.com.