SUSD logo Scottsdale Unified School District

No Dream Too Big . . . No Challenge Too Great
Education Center
3811 North 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85018 		Telephone: 480-484-6100
FAX: 480-484-6286
Web site: www.susd.org

For Release:   September 13, 2002
Contact: Carol Hughes, 480-484-6188
NEWS and INFORMATION

Teachers pay for performance checks will range from $900-$1,500

Teachers who were employed by the District in 2001-2002 will receive a pay for performance check, along with their regular check, on Oct. 11. The pay for performance gross amounts per check range from $900 to $1,500. This pay for performance check, funded with Prop. 301 sales tax revenues, is based on the accomplishment of goals and evidence of growth in student achievement.

Last week the superintendent announced that all 2001-2002 teachers will receive a pay for performance check based on accomplishments for that school year. Dr. Barbara Erwin indicated that individual amounts still were being calculated, and that more details would be coming this week from Kim Cumby, executive director of Human Resource Services.

According to Mrs. Cumby, the Review and Approval Committee is very excited with the achievements and results in the school improvement plans. She noted:
  • 100% of our campuses demonstrated an increase in student achievement.
  • 100% of our campuses achieved its staff development goals.
  • More than 80% of our campuses achieved all of its goals in the four criteria categories.
  • More than 95% of our campuses achieved its technology goals.

"The District has been working for years to develop a pay for performance process and plan. With the additional funding from Prop. 301, and the specific District goals set by the Scottsdale school community, we were able to find a common focus this past year," Mrs. Cumby said.

The process began last fall, when campuses presented their school improvement plans to the Review and Approval Committee, which is comprised of administrator and teacher representation. The plans tie campus goals to the District goals set by the community. Each goal was assigned a percentage weight:

  • 40%--Growth in individual student academic achievement
  • 20%--Positive, respectful, and safe learning environment.
  • 20%--Student and staff proficiency in the use of technology.
  • 20%--Staff professional development programs.

The school improvement plans also provided a rationale for selecting the campus goals, along with strategies to achieve the goals. In particular, campuses included data analysis of student test scores (data disaggregation) and staff professional development to achieve their goals.

"Principals have commented they are hearing a common language among teachers, words like data analysis and disagrregation, intervention, individual student, tutorials, training, alternative learning, teacher Web page, and accountability," Mrs. Cumby noted. "This shows that we are focusing on all students, which is our primary goal."

"Additionally, we found that the setting of goals, and then the achievement of those goals, has built employee confidence," she added.

Nearly $3.1 million was set aside from last year's Prop. 301 monies, for school and individual pay for performance. Of that amount, 85%, or roughly $2.6 million was earmarked for site pay for performance plans, and it is from this amount that teacher will receive their pay for performance checks on Oct. 11. These amounts will be based on FTE (full time equivalent) and will be adjusted for leave. Additionally, taxes, Social Security, and retirement benefits are deducted.

The Review and Approval Committee is still reviewing individual pay for performance plans, which will be paid out of the other 15%, or roughly $459,000. Teachers can earn up to $2,500 in individual pay for performance, based on the achievement of individual goals. Four campuses requested approval to submit individual pay for performance plans: Mountainside, Pueblo, Tavan, and Zuni. Plans were approved last year and results are being reviewed.
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The Scottsdale Unified School District has 33 schools serving about 27,300 students. More than 3,000 persons are employed by the district, including about 1,700 teachers. The district celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1996. Its boundaries include most, but not all of the city of Scottsdale, almost all of the town of Paradise Valley, a section of the city of Phoenix, and a section of the city of Tempe.