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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2009 > March > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTop teachers could keep bonuses
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia teachers with national board certification would continue to get bonuses, under a substitute HB 243 the House Education Committee approved Thursday.
The revised bill, introduced by Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth), keeps the 10 percent salary increase that about 2,500 Georgia teachers currently receive. It also promises the supplement to teachers who are in the process of earning certification.
The bill represents a change from the original HB 243, which eliminated the bonus. Rep. Jimmy Pruett (R-Eastman) filed the legislation on behalf of Gov. Sonny Perdue, who has said eliminating the bonuses could save the state about $12 million.
Teachers across the state opposed the change, saying the money was promised to them.
Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton) offered an amendment that would prohibit teachers from receiving the bonus when they renew the certification, which lasts for 10 years. The amendment failed.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards runs the certification program, which often takes more than a year to complete.
The education committee approved the bill, 13-6.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Legislature
Comments
By bravesfan
March 6, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this
Fellow citizens: please call your district’s representative and senators and plead with them to vote down the substitute presented by Rep. Brooks Coleman and Rep. Setzler. This bills is a slap in the face to the best teachers in the state and an insult to their intelligence, and it will ultimately result in the state’s failing to live up to a promise it made in paying the state’s National Board Certified teachers the 10% supplement they have been promised by state law. This will amount to a salary cut of approximately $600/mo. for over 2,500 National Board Certified teachers.
Your “governor” has had three of his clones in the House to push through this horrible piece of legislation. He clearly does not care about education. He only cares about himself and the bottom line. He has no clue how he is affecting the lives of his best teachers, and how this legislation will affect the students of these teachers. Please go to www.votesmart.org to find your representative and your senator and implore them to vote down these bills. Thanks for reading.