08/30/13 Teachers in the Plymouth Schools will have to wait a least a few more weeks to find out if they are eligible for a performance bonus. Teacher evaluations are tied into the ISTEP+ (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Proposes+) scores that are not being released by the IDOE (Indiana Department of Education) until September 9. The ISTEP scores are a reflection of testing by Indiana students for the 2012-2013 school year..
Those teachers who meet the qualifications to be named highly effective or effective will be given a flat raise in the amount of $1,100, according to Plymouth Schools Superintendent Daniel Tyree.
The flat raise system was approved by both the PEA (Plymouth Education Association) and the Plymouth School Board. Those teachers who receive one of the two the highest ratings can also get an additional $300 if they have attained 45 hours of professional development.
Tyree said the flat rate check amounts to approximately a 4 percent raise for a beginning teacher being paid $35,000 and a 2 percent raise for those capped at the top at $65,000.
Tyree said that had hoped to give teachers raises close to the beginning of the school year, but they can’t move forward until the ISTEP Scores are released, student growth data is determined and the schools receive a letter grade.
However, Tyree favors giving the IDOE time to help assure that the information is correct. He said, “I want them to take their time to look at growth data and grades carefully.” He added, “We are willing to wait in the hope that it won’t be an issue in the future.”
