Controversial bill allowing teacher bonus pay deals behind closed doors passes Senate
02/01/2016

 

A controversial bill that gives administrators unbridled power to pay certain teachers more at the expense of other teachers has passed the Senate in a close 26 – 24 vote.

 

ISTA has alerted members to SB 10 since it was negatively amended in the Senate Education Committee earlier this session. An amendment last week indicated that added salary deals can be handled in a school board’s executive session—shielding that information from the public’s knowledge and at the school board’s discretion.

 

As the bill stands now, it would make a few teachers’ signing or retention bonuses un-bargainable. In effect, these supplements take precedence over ensuring that every teacher has a good shot at a rising professional wage.

 

The bill also calls for up to 50 percent of the bonus payment to go into the future base pay of those few teachers—taking even more money off the table for compensation packages for all teachers well into the future.

 

Sen. Vaneta Becker (R – Evansville), spoke against the bill reading aloud letters from local school superintendents in her district, with one characterizing the bill as “offensive” and “policies like this are demeaning to teachers.” Sen. Becker reminded senators that in 2011 they restricted bargaining to salary and wage issues. Since then, the legislature has systemically made exceptions to salary and wage bargaining. SB 10 is the latest example.

 

SB 10 now moves to the House to be considered. ISTA will continue to track and vigorously oppose this bill.

 

The 2016 General Assembly will reach its halfway point this week. There will be plenty of opportunities over the next month to improve or defeat bad bills like these. Please stay involved and committed to the cause of strong public schools.