[sherrenee]

I just read an article in the Northwest Arkansas times from a few weeks ago (yes I am a little behind ).
Here is the clip that infuriates me "Teachers in this program that targets at-risk students who have completed kindergarten through second grades will bank $8,000 for 12 days of classroom instruction and three days of preparation at the school."

IMO that dollar amount for that amount of time worked is a serious waste of taxpayer money.

Whats your take on it?

[hotair2]

Originally Posted by sherrenee

I just read an article in the Northwest Arkansas times from a few weeks ago (yes I am a little behind ).
Here is the clip that infuriates me "Teachers in this program that targets at-risk students who have completed kindergarten through second grades will bank $8,000 for 12 days of classroom instruction and three days of preparation at the school."

IMO that dollar amount for that amount of time worked is a serious waste of taxpayer money.

Whats your take on it?

I read the article. It looks like they are spending Federal Stimulus money, or more appropriately trying to figure out how to spend it. It does seem like a big waste. You would think they could come up with a better way to spend it.

[Dr. Foosball]

The crazy thing is that the state minimum for teacher salary is $29,500 for 185 days of work. That is just under $160 a day.

This new progam is paying teacher $533 a day to teach for 15 days.

If they want to spend it on education, just raise the state minimum. Teachers in NWA don't have to worry about the minimum, but there are a lot of smaller schools who won't pay more than they have to pay.

[hotair2]

Originally Posted by Dr. Foosball

The crazy thing is that the state minimum for teacher salary is $29,500 for 185 days of work. That is just under $160 a day.

This new progam is paying teacher $533 a day to teach for 15 days.

If they want to spend it on education, just raise the state minimum. Teachers in NWA don't have to worry about the minimum, but there are a lot of smaller schools who won't pay more than they have to pay.

Not a bad idea. Can't have too many good teachers.

[sherrenee]

I think the money would be much better spent creating jobs, instead of paying those that have a job additional money.

[Sneezyone]

Would you mind posting a link to the actual story? Your post raised more questions for me than anything else. There's just not enough there to form any opinion or jump to any conclusions.

Were these teachers who'd obtained National Board Certification (usually on their own dime)? If so, Board Cert. teachers are proven to be improve student learning outcomes, particularly with underperforming students. How much is that worth to you, to society?

Are the teachers mentoring/instructing new teachers on how to better serve underperforming students? (i.e. assuming leadership/administrative responsibilities) and do those responsibilities carry through to the school year as well? If so, that's a significant change in their position and additional compensation seems warranted.

There has to be more to the story.

[hotair2]

Originally Posted by Sneezyone

Would you mind posting a link to the actual story? Your post raised more questions for me than anything else. There's just not enough there to form any opinion or jump to any conclusions.

Were these teachers who'd obtained National Board Certification (usually on their own dime)? If so, Board Cert. teachers are proven to be improve student learning outcomes, particularly with underperforming students. How much is that worth to you, to society?

Are the teachers mentoring/instructing new teachers on how to better serve underperforming students? (i.e. assuming leadership/administrative responsibilities) and do those responsibilities carry through to the school year as well? If so, that's a significant change in their position and additional compensation seems warranted.

There has to be more to the story.

Here you go . NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source (http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/75256/ - broken link)

[Sneezyone]

Thanks. That helps a lot. The article seems to suggest that the program requires more of the teachers than the normal school-year curriculum. That's probably true, but I also think there's a healthy dose of district spin thrown in for good measure.

What they should have said was something like, the public is so used to paying teachers pennies on the dollar that when they're actually compensated appropriately it looks somewhat outlandish. This level of compensation is what teachers should receive year-round since many/most go above and beyond and are not compensated for those efforts. We don't have the funds to do that during the school year. We did, however, receive stimulus funds to make this program all that every program should be, both for the students AND the teachers.

To me, this doesn't look wasteful at all, it looks a lot more like just desserts.

[sherrenee]

I know some teachers in the smaller schools dont get paid as well but my sister-in-law works for Springdale Schools and makes about 59,000 (be doing it for 5 years) and just got notice that she will be receiving a $2000 bonus (from the stimulus) and a $2000 yearly raise, so she isn't hurting for money one bit.

If you ask me that is kind of a slap in the face to the people who are now jobless or the people that have managed to find a job but for a lot less money. I know many people who were making upwards of $20-25 hourly who have been forced to take a major pay cut just to have a job.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by sherrenee

I know some teachers in the smaller schools dont get paid as well but my sister-in-law works for Springdale Schools and makes about 59,000 (be doing it for 5 years) and just got notice that she will be receiving a $2000 bonus (from the stimulus) and a $2000 yearly raise, so she isn't hurting for money one bit.
If you ask me that is kind of a slap in the face to the people who are now jobless.

I don't know what your sister teaches but being a teacher today isn't the easiest job in the world, in fact being a teacher has never been an easy job. Does she work with special ed kids or anything like that? I am glad she is getting a bonus.

What would you want the district to do? Cut her salary and give the money to someone else?

Sorry, I don't understand your thinking on this. I am sorry for anyone without a job that wants to work, who isn't and many of us have been on that road, but what does your sister's salary have to do with people who do not have jobs..??

Nita