Retirement credit proposed over teacher bonus

Thursday, May 1, 2003 | 10:58 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Senate and Assembly budget writers deadlocked today on giving schoolteachers bonuses at at-risk schools and those who are in high-demand areas.

At a legislative subcommittee on public schools, the two sides also could not agree on funding for full-day kindergarten or on class-size reduction formulas.

Gov. Kenny Guinn has set aside more than $16 million to give bonuses to math, science and special education teachers and to psychologists over the next two years. It would provide $3,000 stipends to teachers in those categories that are hard to fill.

The governor also recommended $2,000 bonuses for teachers at at-risk schools, costing more than $15 million over the next two years.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, suggested that the Legislature allocate the money recommended by the governor but if there is not enough money, then reduce the bonuses.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, chairwoman of the subcommittee, instead favored giving teachers a retirement credit, which is a long-term incentive for instructors in this category.

The Assembly agreed with a Giunchigliani suggestion that there be a one-fifth retirement credit, rather than a cash bonus. She said that would save money. Other money would be set aside for the school districts to negotiate with teachers over performance-based pay. And additional money would be used to move the beginning pay of teachers to $30,000.

Republicans have the majority in the Senate and Democrats have the edge in the Assembly.

The Senate and Assembly budget writers have agreed on a funding plan for the University and Community College System of Nevada. But they are apart on key factors of providing aid to the public schools.

Raggio argued that there's been a revolving door at at-risk schools, with the good teachers leaving and less qualified ones replacing them. The $2,000 bonus could serve to keep the good teachers at these schools, as long as they make a two-year commitment, he said.

Giunchigliani, a 23-year special education teacher at an at-risk school, said teachers would prefer a retirement credit rather than the bonus.

Both sides agree there should be some reward for these teachers but were unable to decide what it would be.

The Senate and Assembly also split on Guinn's recommendation to start full-day kindergarten in 30 percent of the schools.

Raggio said it would not be wise to approve the kindergarten now because of the state's tight financial circumstances. He said this should be placed on a priority list in case additional money is available.

The Assembly side agreed with Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, to spend more than $6 million to start a pilot full-day kindergarten program. This would allow the school districts to compete for the available money.

The Assembly members also suggested that class size reduction programs continue along their same lines that are presently 1 teacher to 16 students in first and second grades and a 1-19 ratio in third grade. The Assembly also wants to extend the 1-16 ratio to kindergarten.

The Senate Republicans, however, want to change the ratios. Raggio suggested the class size requires be one teacher to 22 students in grades one through five. And there would be flexibility for extending to grade six.

The governor has suggested spending more than $219 million to continue class-size reduction along the present lines and with a 1-23 teacher-student ratio in at-risk kindergartens.