Let's Talk iStars...

I've had a number of meetings regarding iStars. This is the new program that the Department of Education's board and Superintendent Luna are recommending that the Legislature approve this year.

Governor Otter has requested a 5% increase for pay for State employees and it's my understanding that iStars will be used to implement that increase throughout that department. I met with the Meridian Education Association (the IEA union here in Meridian) where I went to listen to their concerns regarding implementing iStars. They showed me a video on the IEA's thoughts on a program that would be preferred and I and Rep. Snodgrass then fielded questions.

There were a number of questions regarding how teachers would get any increases through iStars at all should they volunteer for that program. Initially, iStars was going to base a teachers merit pay on the ISAT tests of their students and teachers that were involved in special education, second language education, PE and other skills were rightly concerned about their ability to get a bonus for their work (that's not really tested/reflected in the ISAT testing).

I had some meetings with Sup. Luna and discussed many of the questions that I was asked when with from the MEA meeting that I was not able to adequately answer...

To summarize our meeting with Sup. Luna, I'd like to point out the following of his plan that was not well understood by the teachers I met with from the MEA:

• The Career Foundation Pay (the existing system) would remain intact and managed as before (negotiated through union discussions)



• On the top of that Foundation Pay would be a Student Achievement merit pay bonus where a SCHOOL (not teacher) would be based on improvement and/or overall excellence in student performance. (thus allowing teacher in a "bad" school to get a bonus based on improvement and teachers in a "good" school to get a bonus based on student test scores of the whole school, not just their class)



• Local school districts would also have the ability to add to this Foundation Pay a Local Control bonus to attract and retain teachers to teach in hard to fill positions.



• These three items are proposed to happen for all teachers, regardless of if they want to "sign up" for the next list of potential bonus opportunities or not. the above is how the Superintendent intends to spread out the 5% pay increase that the Governor has requested in his budget.

If a teacher elects (there is a choice here) to work under a new category of contract offered to teachers (a category 4 contract) they will also be eligible for the following bonus programs:

• Leadership Bonus: Teachers would be eligible to receive up to a $2400 bonus by taking on Leadership roles within the district or schools.



• Expertise Bonus: Teachers would be eligible to receive up to a $2400 bonus by gaining more expertise and earning qualification to teach in multiple subject areas (this is not to be confused with the current qualification improvement system currently within the Foundation Pay base system).



• Career Opportunity pay increase: Teachers would receive a $2400 bonus for signing up for a category 4 contract of 1 to 3 years. This increase would be added each year of the base contract. This contract is very similar to the current contracts that our school Administrators work under.

One of the things I did learn about these category 4 contracts through Sup. Luna was that each year the contract would be reviewed and would either be extended by a year or (if on a 3 year contract) if there were issues, one would be put on an improvement program and have an additional 2 years to improve and increase their contract length.

Learn more about the iStars plan through a video produced about the plan's objectives and details here.

"Due Process" seemed to be also a very big concern of our teachers here in Meridian and I discussed this with Sup. Luna. As far as I know, there is no way one can take away an American Citizen's "due process" based upon our nation's constitution. I suspect this miss-information came from those not wanting to even consider change.

He informed me that under the current state category 4 contracts where is a 6 step process of review if there is an issue where a teacher would be asked to leave their position:

• Evaluation: Evaluations from the Administration must be fair and valid,



• Letter of Evaluation: teachers must receive an official letter outlining their specific areas of deficiencies,



• Improvement Plan: the Administration must develop a personalized improvement plan and then provide time to demonstrate improvement,



• Probationary Period: The Teacher will receive a minimum of 8 weeks to enable them to work towards meeting the goals within the improvement plan and demonstrate that improvement.



• Re-Evaluation: the teacher must then receive another fair and valid re-evaluation from the Administration.



• Appeal Process: If after this process, the Teacher has not demonstrated the improvement required to meet the goals, the teacher can then appeal to the local school board where a hearing is held. The Teacher, parents, patrons, students and other Teachers are allowed to speak on the Teacher's behalf.

Idaho Teachers have the ability to participate in the first part of iStars bonus programs without changing their current contracts. They would, however, be provided their increases based upon performance of their schools student performance and the districts decision to provide bonuses to those that have performed at a greater level than others.

Those Teachers that elect to sign up for the new category 4 contract can add even more income based upon their capabilities and drive for excellence and involvement with their schools, districts and expertise they are able to provide to the team.

Some say that iStars is only a "union busting" effort by the department, but there are no restrictions for teachers to leave the union to take advantage of the iStars program, so that's an argument I just don't buy...

I see iStars as a choice for our Teachers to be able to excel in the classroom and get paid for it. Our Teachers seem to "top out" pay wise about mid-career and many start looking for ways to increase their take home pay about that time. We loose many really good Teachers to administrative jobs or jobs in similar careers... taking them away from our kids when they are in their prime of teaching skills and abilities. iStars provides those teachers with the choice of staying in the classroom, flexing their skills and getting paid more for their expertise and success. I also see this as an excellent opportunity to attract new teachers to problem areas where they can excel right out of the gate and make more than the base salary right out of college while filling critically vacant positions identified by the Districts.

I'm not blind, however, I do see where the IEA would be concerned about the category 4 contracts offering more than what the union's would be able to negotiate under the iStars proposal. The union is working hard for their "customers" by offering up an alternative plan that I reviewed. I don't see as much of a change from what we currently have had for the last 20 years, or have had the opportunity to implement.

I have also heard some districts have currently up to 50% of their teachers that are excited about the iStars opportunity. This is a concern for me as it could cost the state more than we are currently forecasting for approval. If I were in Sup. Luna's shoe's, I think I would put a cap on the program for a maximum number volunteers allowed per year to ensure we can stay within the approved budget.

I see iStars as an opportunity for positive change in the way we educate our students. We must be more pro-active in attracting and KEEPING good Teachers to make sure our kids are the best educated kids in the nation. If we don't provide the good Teachers with pay for performance, we will continue down the same road we travel today where Idaho is not at the top of the list of performers.

iStars has some issues, but I don't see any that can't be tweaked overtime to make this program one of the best in the nation, giving our kids the best Teachers our state can give them.

Your thoughts?