Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Mark Green proposes pay for performance...
...on the day WEAC formally endorses Jim Doyle.
The November 7 election is boiling down to a battle to preserve the values of Wisconsin and protect the state's quality education system that provides opportunities for all children to succeed in life, Governor Doyle said while enthusiastically accepting WEAC's support Saturday (September 16, 2006) at the September WEAC Board and committee meeting.
"We have a real battle ahead of us," Doyle said after WEAC President Stan Johnson announced that WEAC members are recommending his re-election and introduced him to sustained applause and chants of 'Four More Years!'"
Yes you do governor, a real tough battle.
The problem with WEAC is that it is a labor union. They don't like performance-based pay because it would deem the union unnecesary. There would be no need for pay schedules for time in district and level of education.
"Good teachers mean good students," Green said. "If a teacher is continually exceeding expectations and increasing student achievement they deserve to be rewarded. In contrast, if a teacher’s biggest achievement is the number of years they've occupied a seat, they should be compensated far less."
Green would also expand school choice and vouchers in Milwaukee County. (Boy, it would have been nice to have that as a kid in Kenosha.)
Green's plan also included a proposal to expand the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Currently, the number of students who may attend private schools under the program may not exceed 22,500. Green would eliminate the enrollment cap, and expand the Choice Program to include any private school in Milwaukee County. He would also increase the family income limit for new students, and rescind the residency requirement for Milwaukee teachers.
"Milwaukee parents, not Madison politicians, know what's best for Milwaukee school children," Green said. "It's time we give those parents a say in their child's education. It’s also time we start tearing down some of the arbitrary barriers that are keeping talented and enthusiastic teachers out of the Milwaukee Public School System.
And finally, spending 70 cents on every dollar on acutal in-class room instruction.
"An increase of this size for classroom spending would allow school districts across the state to hire a total of at least 4,643 new teachers, or purchase an additional 245,833 computers," Green said. "Every dollar we spend on administration is one less dollar we have for textbooks, computers, exciting curriculum and qualified teachers. It's time we start channeling more of our taxpayer dollars to where they'll count most -- our classrooms."
Looks like a slam-dunk for Green. WEAC doesn't think so, but of course they wouldn't.
Labels: Election 2006
