By Tom
King 5 News aired a segment on the show "Up Front with Robert Mak" about the governor's proposal to eliminate the National Board stipend from the next budget. It's well done; he gets most of the facts right, and it features a very articulate third grade teacher from Bellevue.
Check it out:
“Rewarding good teachers in tough times could take a hit.”
I don't have much to add, except this:
This money was promised. It is not a "bonus" in the strict sense of the word. A bonus is a reward, usually given annually, for achieving a certain level of performance. A bonus is something companies usually distribute when they had a particularly good year.
This money is actually a stipend. A stipend is a raise given to somebody in recognition of a past accomplishment which has been determined to have a positive effect on current performance.
The distinction isn't trivial or technical. A bonus is something that an employee shouldn't count on. A stipend is. Taking away a bonus returns the person in question to their normal place on the salary scale. Taking away a stipend takes that person to a lower place on the salary scale.
It's a pay cut. And it discourages teachers from undergoing the most powerful professional development they're likely to come across during their entire careers.
To her credit, the Governor looks very upset when discussing this issue. It's clear that this was a painful decision for her. She also holds out hope that the stipend will return when the economy picks up.
Everything is contingent on being funded by the state. That’s the essence of a budget. But the amount of money, $100 million, isn’t all that much when taken in context.
Our bed might be made, but I intend to go down to Olympia next weekend to remake it.
Tom, I remember us taking a gamble when a group of teachers pursued our National Boards a few years ago – the bonus/stipend/reward was always contingent upon it being funded by the state. I remember being skeptical, even then, that the money would be there by the time I got my results. I feel fortunate to have had the experience paid for and then some. It was a powerful experience.
While I like the idea of an annual bonus/stipend for my efforts, I’m willing to let it go. I’d like to see teachers reimbursed for earning their National Boards, or at least to have the experience be funded by the state, but if there’s no money I’d rather give up the bonus and have the money go to schools, specifically, elementary and pre-K.
The real issue here is that Gregoire refuses to tax business or suspend tax breaks for banks. And the real issue is that Washingtonians have refused every tax put before a vote – including a tax on something that’s a choice and a luxury like soda and bottled water. Our bed has been made.