Teachers’ bonuses get mixed reviews

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, came out in support Tuesday of Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposal to pay bonuses to teachers who remain at "at-risk" schools.

But Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, was critical of the plan. She said the state's school districts should be allowed to create what she called a "market-based pay" rather than handing out bonuses to certain teachers.

The disagreement between the two lawmakers came at a hearing of a Senate-Assembly budget committee on state aid to local school districts.

Guinn wants to provide an annual $2,000 stipend for teachers who stay in at-risk schools. That would cost $15.7 million over the next two years.

Guinn also wants to set aside $17 million over the next two years to provide annual $3,000 bonuses for teachers who specialize in subjects that have a high demand. These include math, English as a second language and special education.

Raggio led an interim legislative committee on education that found that good teachers are not remaining at at-risk schools. He said it is a concern not just in Nevada, but nationwide.

He also suggested that science teachers be included in the category of those eligible for $3,000 bonuses.

Guinn's budget also includes a 2 percent average increase this July for Nevada's 22,000 teachers. That's to make up for a raise promised two years ago that did not develop because of a downturn in the state's tax collections.

The governor's budget would also provide $17 million in the second year of the coming biennium to start full-day mandatory kindergarten for at-risk students.

Jim Hager, superintendent of the Washoe County School District and the head of the association of school superintendents, said the school chiefs support Guinn's education proposals.