It is interesting in a year that finds the State Superintendent of Public Instruction going to bat for adding a significant amount of money toward teacher's salaries that it still meets with opposition from teachers (union). According to the IEA position it appears that the only marketable plan for enhancing teacher pay is one that comes minus any accountability. Teacher pay has been the hottest issue for teachers since I have been in the profession (20 years) and I am sure prior! Now a solid plan to enhance salaries by as much as $12-14,000 dollars a year has come forth but is not supported by the union.

How does a union look their membership in the eye and say they refused to work with a plan that could significantly raise salaries for teachers? If you are close to retirement think of what impact this would have on your PERSI retirement. I know that the Category IV contract has been discussed as an issue and that having a continuing contract protects teachers. Protects them from what? I hear stories about potential rogue administrators but never any specific cases of them running roughshod over teachers.

There is not enough common sense from the IEA to attempt to work in partnership with the State Department and go in with a unified front to legislators. The disharmony will only make lawmakers wary of making any progress on the front of enhancing teacher salaries. They will approve the cost of living and wash their hands. In essence, the bickering gives them an out for trying to take on this challenging proposition.

That is not to say that the iSTARS proposal does not have some areas that are concerning but it is a place to start and a plan that can be defended. Over time it is also a plan that can be evaluated and adjusted as needs change. I applaud Superintendent Luna for taking the brave step of putting teachers and their pay at the forefront of his agenda. He is also a man of integrity and has worked hard to fulfill the platform of his campaign. Even if you don't like all aspects of iSTARS I urge interested parties to support it and then as time goes on work to refine the plan.

Cody Claver
Meridian, Idaho