Alaska educators are just one step away from receiving annual bonuses to retain their students for the next three years.
The bill, which was introduced by Governor. Mike Dunleavy, left the House Education Committee this week. It will award rewards of up to $15,000 for full-time teachers at the conclusion of every school year.
The amount of the bonus will depend upon the particular district. The teachers in districts that are urban, such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Juneau could receive $5,000. Rural districts like Ketchikan, Kodiak Island and Unalaska and Kodiak Island, would receive $10,000. Teachers from districts with the lowest population density like Bristol Bay, Klawock and the Northwest Arctic Borough, would be awarded $15,000.
Its style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”We’re targeting our school districts with the highest percentage of rural populations because they’re often those that suffer most from retention and recruitment problems,” Dunleavy said when he introduced the bill in March. In the year 2020-21, which began in January remote rural districts experienced 10 percent more teachers who left over urban schools, as per Education Northwest.
Implementing the bill will be an estimated $58 million annually .
In the House Education Committee meeting Wednesday, Sitka independent Rep. Rebecca Himschoot proposed an amendment to make the bonus permanent instead of just over three years.
It’s a style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”We already have a retirement system in place that does not necessarily require individuals to stay for more than 5 years.” She said. “By offering this reward for just 3 years it’s kind similar to saying “Come in, do your three years before you leave. I’m trying to come up with ways to support teachers with a longer .”
Himschoot added an amendment to expand the bonus to paraprofessionals and support staff, citing the shortage of bus drivers as well as other employees. However, Rep. Mike Prax, North Pole Republican, was concerned that about the expense of the amendments could place the bill in the risk of being rejected.
“I believe that we increase the chance of not getting anything if we attempt to push too far,” Prax said.
The amendments were rejected by a margin of 3-4 votes. Members of the committee voted unanimously remove the bill from committee however, there were some who expressed concern that it could put proposed raises to the per-student budget at risk.
Rep. CJ McCormick, a member of the D-Bethel House, claimed he contacted teachers during a recent trip back home.
It’s a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I have spoken with them about this bill and they said, ‘This isn’t what we want. They stated”We want benefits that are good and we’d like to see an increase in the BSA”” he added. “I believe this is an excellent thing, however I think it must be in line with other increases. .”
Chair of the Committee Rep. Jamie Allard, from Eagle River, said that the retention bonuses provided the teachers with direct assistance.
“I personaly believe this is an incentive and way to recruit,” she said.
The Senate version of the bonus bill is still on the Senate Education Committee.
