MUSD board approves teacher compensation plan

The Maricopa Unified School District governing board approved a performance-based compensation plan Wednesday evening that awards teachers with extra pay when they achieve certain academic goals.

The plan, which is developed each year, was originally created following the passage of Proposition 301, an initiative that raises the statewide sales tax to help fund education programs. Arizona voters approved the proposition in November 2000.

Before it is presented to the school board, it must be approved by at least 70 percent of district teachers who are eligible to participate in the plan. This year, 91 percent of teachers were in favor of the plan.

Scott Bartle was the sole board member who voted against this year’s plan on Wednesday.

Bartle raised a number of objections to the proposal, arguing that a more rigorous performance-based compensation plan would help recruit and retain better teachers.

“How can we have the best of the best?” Bartle said. “This program awards mediocrity.”

According to the plan, teachers who qualify for a pay increase receive a portion of the district’s 301 funds. These funds are offered to all qualified teachers. 

Bartle said giving every qualified teacher a raise does not have a significant impact in retaining and recruiting teachers. However, if the district were to establish a plan that rewards the top third or top 15 percent of teachers, it would provide more of an incentive. The pay increases would be greater, he said.  

“That is very meaningful. That gets people’s attention,” Bartle said. “That, in my opinion, would get teachers from around Arizona wanting to work at Maricopa Unified if they’re a great teacher.”

Earlier in the meeting, board member AnnaMarie Knorr said she agreed with the plan as written.

“I think it’s a good plan for the teachers and it’s one way we can reward our teachers,” she said.

But she also said she agreed with Bartle, and that the district should take steps to ensure the high-performing teachers are the ones who are rewarded. She suggested the board look at the money received from Proposition 301 at a later time to see if there are other ways to continue rewarding teachers.

***ADVERTISEMENT***In order to receive their extra pay, teachers will be evaluated on a number of criteria. The criteria are broken down into categories such as academic achievement, student attendance and professional investments options.  

Under the professional investment options category, teachers are awarded points for completing optional activities such as participating on a committee, supervising a spelling bee or creating a website. Each activity is worth a certain number of points. Teachers must earn at least 10 points to receive full marks in this category.

Knorr said there should be a system in place to verify teachers are actually participating in the activities they say they’re doing. She said she has seen teachers sign in at parent teacher organization meetings and then leave before the meeting is over.

Director of Human Resources Tom Beckett and Superintendent Steve Chestnut said they would make sure something was in place to guarantee that doesn’t happen.