Differentiated Pay Sent Back to Rules

Feb 27, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

Sen. Stephenson Says Bill Still In Play

(KCPW News) Senator Howard Stephenson's proposal to pay math and science teachers an extra $5,000 hit a snag this morning. It failed to gain the support of the House Education Committee, and has been sent back to the Rules Committee. However, Stephenson says it isn't necessarily a lost cause.

"The bill has now had a hearing in both the Senate and the House and it is still in play," Stephenson says. "It will be up to Rules and the House whether it will be considered on the floor of the House."

Even if Senate Bill 35 passes the House, though, it still needs to go through the appropriations process. A similar bill proposed last year, to create the Pro-Excel program, cleared both the Senate and House, but failed to secure funding. While the Education Appropriations Committee has prioritized Stephenson's differentiated pay proposal this year, the Executive Appropriations Committee has yet to decide which education programs will get funded. And, there is a possibility that even if differentiated pay is funded, the proposed $5,000 bonus for math and science teachers could be reduced. Stephenson says he would be happy to have any amount of funding for the program.

"I would consider it a victory to have any amount of differential pay for math and science teachers," Stephenson says. "It would begin to recognize that in the real world, we have to pay people market-wages."

Two attempts to alter Stephenson's bill failed to gain committee-support. One would have allowed teachers to apply for the additional money on-line. The other would have extended the benefit to special education teachers, who are also in critically short supply throughout Utah. Click here to read a full text of Senate Bill 35 and podcasts of the floor debates.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW