Letter: School District will get what it pays for

Monday, April 23, 2007 | 7:36 a.m.

Our public schools need fully qualified teachers in all fields of education. The only things that will attract and retain the very best teachers are top salaries and benefits. Politicians and the public want filet mignon - caliber teachers, but are willing to offer only cheeseburger - level compensation and benefits.

Science, math, technology and other college majors are not going to endure four years of challenging curriculum to settle for a Clark County School District starting salary of $30,000. For example, beginning chemists, mathematicians, engineers and other college-trained professionals easily make three times as much in industry without dealing with the hassles of teaching in public schools.

Quality education is dependent on quality teachers. To attract and retain the best, this state must offer teacher compensation and benefits at a level commensurate with other professions beyond the uncertainty of shadowy voodoo merit pay systems.

The public and our state politicians still don't get it, but if they want the best teachers they will have to offer top salaries. Without a significant increase in pay for all teachers, beyond a laughable 6 percent biennial increase, Nevada education will remain unchanged and no better than many Third World nations ' .

I doubt that our current Legislature and local School Board will do much to change the status quo . It has become far easier to implement vague, hollow promises of untested merit pay systems benefiting few than to raise the entire pay level of classroom teachers.

Virgil A. Sestini, Las Vegas

The writer is a retired high school teacher.