current legislation questions

From the wvea website:
A Senate Education Subcommittee passed out SB 1012, relating to
salary supplements for school personnel. The bill was amended
to increase the salary supplement for those working in high
minority or high poverty schools from $1000 to $2000 and also
those teaching math or science from $500 to $5000. The total
amount of salary supplements an individual may receive would be
capped at $5000. The bill will be presented to the full
committee on Education.

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What about those who teach math or science in a special
education setting?

Or those who co-teach math or science?

What if someone teaches math AND science? Why shouldn't
they get double the bonus? It's a double certification.

Why isn't special education included on this bill?

Do you think that only those who are fully-certified should
receive these bonuses? (personally I do)

Correct me if I'm wrong SASHA but isn't there a state law that says all teachers pay has to be within 10% of the highest paid teachers?

To answer my own question, yes there is such a law.

§18A-4-5. Salary equity among the counties; state salary supplement.
(a) For the purposes of this section, salary equity among the counties means that the salary potential of school employees employed by the various districts throughout the state does not differ by greater than ten percent between those offering the highest salaries and those offering the lowest salaries.

WVCode 18-4-5

So according to what the state law currently states, unless the new bill exempts these increases (and considering over half the subcommittee members are either teachers or former teachers does anyone think that is likely) all teachers will be getting a backdoor pay increase.

Not ALL teachers would be receiving this so it would not be considered a "pay increase" - backdoor or otherwise.

It is simply a bonus - attempting to draw more teachers to these areas.

Personally - as written I don't stand to benefit from this in my own paycheck. (Hubbie qualifies - he teaches math AND science.)

They've always whined that sp. ed. is understaffed - wonder why it's not on this list (I'd qualify for that).

Interestingly - this "bonus" to me is a recognition of the fact that if you "pay them, they will come" -- for math & science at least. In my mind, this torpedoes their argument against across-the-board pay raises to help us compete with neighboring states. Are math/science teachers more mercenary than the rest of us? Are they less "dedicated" than the rest of us?

It won't be a bonus if the legislature do not stipulate it as such and exempt if from the 18-4-5. If they don’t and as soon as the lowest paid teachers pay drops below 90% of the highest paid teachers, the teachers union will sue and given that this is West Virginia, will win.

Aaron wrote:It won't be a bonus if the legislature do not stipulate it as such and exempt if from the 18-4-5. If they don’t and as soon as the lowest paid teachers pay drops below 90% of the highest paid teachers, the teachers union will sue and given that this is West Virginia, will win.

never said the legislature was smart......prolly will end up with the Governor not signing it due to 'clerical errors' like other bills from this past session.