In a unanimous vote, the House Ed Committee introduced a leadership premium bill crafted by Rep. Lance Clow (R-Twin Falls) and Rep. Julie VanOrden (R-Blackfoot). HB 504 would provide $15.9 million of what are being referred to as “premiums” to teachers around the state. The bill sponsors told committee members that their plan, developed without stakeholder input, provides some flexibility for districts.
Districts would receive $850 per teacher. Under the provisions of this proposal, no teacher could receive less than $850 nor could an individual receive more than $5,780, depending on the number and types of leadership roles they are assigned by their trustees.
The bill provides a list of leadership priorities that a district can chose from. Those include:
- Providing instruction in a subject in which the employee holds a content area master’s degree;
- Teaching a course in which students earn both high school and college credit;
- Teaching a course to middle school students in which the students earn both middle school and high school credit;
- Holding and providing service in multiple non-administrative certificate or subject endorsement areas;
- Serving in an instructional position designated as hard to fill by the board of trustees;
- Providing mentoring, peer assistance or professional development;
- Providing career or academic counseling within or in addition to the teacher’s regular classroom instructional duties;
- Other leadership duties designated by the board of trustees.
The bill also requires school districts to report how the leadership premium money is distributed. HB 504 is expected to come back to the House Education Committee for a full hearing, possibly as early as next week.
