By Bill Zeeble, KERA reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-650331.mp3
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA radio reporter: Last year the DISD applied for and won 22 million federal TIF dollars. TIF stands for the teacher incentive fund. Some teachers unions reject this approach designed to reward teachers whose student test-scores outperformed other student scores. And they reject it, because, they say, schools aren't businesses.
Dale Kaiser, president, NEA-Dallas: Well in business you get to control the raw product that you bring in to make whatever you'll produce.
Zeeble: Dale Kaiser is the President of the National Education Association, in Dallas.
Kaiser: In public education we take all who come in the door. We don't control the raw product, we have no control over it, and once the product has arrived at our doorsteps we have no control after that student walks out the school house door.
Zeeble: Kaiser also has problems with the complicated merit evaluation methods used to rate both teachers and schools. A high score can net a teacher and school thousands in annual bonus money. But Kaiser says teachers don't understand it & may not be able to challenge the decision on who gets money.
Kaiser: A teacher gets the form then must give it to the principal. If the principal refuses to sign off, then the appeal is dead.
Zeeble: So Kaiser rejects the whole incentive plan, saying proponents will learn the hard way it won't work. But the largest teacher organization, the Alliance - AFT, embraces it. President Aimee Bolender says AFT members worked with administrators for 18 months so the plan included everyone, not just teachers of English or math, whose subjects are easily tested.
Aimee Bolender, president Alliance AFT: The entire community at a school makes a difference in the environment for students and how they learn. We felt the entire team should be part of the winners. We're talking from the principal to assistant principal to teachers, the librarian, nurse, counselor, custodian, food service employee.
Zeeble; As for how teachers and schools would be evaluated, the DISD's Kim Olson, head of personnel and compensation, told the school board the method is effective, but acknowledged problems.
Kim Olson, DISD, Personnel and Compensation: Where we struggle is in communicating what it's about, what's measured, what the exceptions are, what you can do if you disagree. Our goal - get all to talk about it and explain it to anyone, like their husbands at home or mothers on the phone. Could we do better? Yes, and we're going to work that hard.
Zeeble: The testing method is so complex, the board will call a special meeting after Thanksgiving just to understand it. But a majority already seem to like it as a reward for good teachers. So does Superintendent Michael Hinojosa.
DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa: If a teacher is moving academic performance, then they are being effective because they're being successful with students in the classroom.
Zeeble: Advocates for the plan also say it'll reward outstanding young teachers sooner. Without merit pay, they might have to wait years before a significant raise. Meanwhile they might be lured from the field or to another district that pays more. A vote on merit pay is scheduled for November 29th. Bill Zeeble KERA news. Bzeeble@Kera.Org