School leaders in Reynoldsburg have proposed merit-based pay increases and eliminating employer based health insurance.
As a result 50 teachers have resigned since last August.
Opponents of the new proposal claim merit pay wonât actually help students or teachers excel, instead adding undue stress and incentives to cheat the system. Their counterparts believe the new rules will lead to harder working teachers, and therefore a better learning environment for students.
Charlie Boss, a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch, explained that there are many people on both sides of the argument surrounding the proposed contract changes.
âPeople will point to studies in the past that have said merit pay doesn't really show proof that it boosts students achievement,â? Boss said. âWhile advocates will say that merit pay can reward, retain and motivate educators.
Gina Daniels, a spokesperson for the Reynoldsburg Education Association, vehemently rejected the claim that the new contracts would benefit anyone.
âWith merit pay, it sort of implies that teachers are all in it for the money. Most teachers, they go into it to help the kids,â? Daniels said. âThe teachers in Reynoldsburg, we feel that the proposal that the board has brought to us is very disappointing to the teachers we feel its almost downright disrespectful.
âIt puts too much of an emphasis on test scores and testing, and takes away from the collaboration and the excellent work that were doing in the district and puts far too much stress not he students. Itâs just not a proposal that is best for our community,â? Daniels said.
Tricia Moore is the community outreach coordinator of the Reynoldsburg City Schools. She said the school leaders are standing by their decision, and they hope an agreement can be reached soon.
âWeâre very hopeful and even confident that it won't come down to a strike. We would be extraordinarily disappointed if we could not reach an amicable agreement with our teachers as we always have in the past,â? Moore said.
For more information about the proposed changes and what prompted them, listen to the full hour of the show here.
Guests
- Charlie Boss, reporter for The Columbus Dispatch
- Gina Daniels, spokesperson for the Reynoldsburg Education Association
- Tricia Moore, community outreach coordinator of the Reynoldsburg City Schools