Merit and combat pay for teachers makes sense for a school system as huge and challenging as Wichita’s. That’s why it was good that teachers and the teachers’ union had been involved in crafting an alternative compensation program with the district. But Wichita superintendent Winston Brooks and the school board sent a lousy message Monday by hurdling that process and proceeding with Brooks’ own plan to give $1,500 bonuses to teachers at high-poverty schools. True, there is something surreal about seeing teachers unhappy about getting more money, but the district has negated the good will behind its gesture by ticking off the union and kissing off the collaborative process. At least the policy will be reviewed next year before it will be repeated.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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