Schools

District spurns bonuses again

Both the School Board and the county's teachers reject another state merit pay plan.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

LAND O'LAKES - Thanks, but no thanks, again.

For the second time this year, the Pasco School Board is sending that message to the state Legislature when it comes to teacher performance pay. The district would have received about $3.6-million from the state for the bonuses.

Board members Tuesday unanimously rejected participation in the state's Merit Award Program, saying they support rewarding excellent teachers, but not as the Legislature has designed it.

Instead, they agreed to urge lawmakers to establish a pilot program that would help create a workable, affordable plan that all sides can swallow. They also instructed the administration to go back to the teachers union, which rejected the plan as well, to go back to the table and craft an agreement for next year, just in case.

"It's coming," board member Allen Altman said of teacher performance pay. "There needs to be a set plan to work together in good faith...so our employees can get those dollars."

But for the time being, Altman said, the district has wasted too much time pursuing an agreement few could agree with. He said he polled 10 teachers he's known for years, and just one supported the proposal.

Vice chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said she had similar views.

"I do believe in merit pay. But that pay has to encourage collaboration and lift our teachers up in a way different than this," Starkey said. "I don't think that this plan is it. I didn't have one teacher come up to me and say, 'This is a good plan, please vote for it.' I had the opposite."

Teachers overwhelmingly voted to reject the plan, which would have given $2,100 bonuses to 25 percent of them. Their ratings would have been based 75 percent on student performance and 25 percent on their job evaluation.

They also voted against the state's previous performance pay program, Special Teachers Are Rewarded, back in the spring.

Land O'Lakes High teacher Robert Marsh summed up the feelings of many this way: "This does not motivate us. What motivates us is students who come back and say, 'Thanks.'

"...This is blood money. This is money for 25 percent of the people that, whatever formula you come up with, is never going to be right."

Union president Lynne Webb said the time was not right to adopt the plan. The system would force teachers to prepare students for year-end exams that, except for the FCAT, do not yet exist in the district.

Many teachers also feel they should not adopt performance pay before securing adequate base pay, Webb said. The district and union have yet to complete their contract negotiations for the current year.

She urged the board to stand with the teachers.

"The teachers have spoken not once, but twice. Let's not foist this upon them against their will," Webb said.

Board member Cathi Martin said she heard the message.

"I stand with the teachers...because they are the core of this district and without them we would be nothing," Martin said.

In taking its action, the School Board is far from alone. Already, 29 other districts have rejected the Merit Award Plan, including Pinellas, Orange and Polk. Fifteen have adopted the program, including Hillsborough, Hernando and Citrus.

Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at solochek@sptimes.com or 813 909-4614. For more education news, visit our education blog the Gradebook at blogs.tampabay.com/schools.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 21:16:25]