FILER - As early as next month, the state Legislature could begin considering two alternative compensation plans designed to improve student performance and provide additional financial incentives for teachers in Idaho schools.

In September, the Idaho Education Association proposed the We Teach program, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna followed up by introducing his own incentive pay plan called the Idaho State Teachers Advancement and Recognition System.

Teachers from several Magic Valley school districts met at Filer Elementary School Tuesday to discuss both plans and present their concerns to state Rep. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, who has served on the state education committee for the past two years.

"The goal of this meeting is to create a communication with legislators about our feeling on this issue," said Susan Hamby, president of the Filer Education Association. "For those of us who are also members of the Idaho Education Association, the biggest problem with Tom Luna's I-STARS plan is getting rid of our property rights (renewable contracts) to get extra money."

The I-STARS plan proposes to give all certified staff in specific schools a $1,200 to $2,400 pay increase if students demonstrate significant improvement on the Idaho Standards Achieve-ment Test scores. The ISAT evaluates student knowledge in the subjects of reading, math and language.

The pay increase would also be given to teachers who advance their expertise by becoming certified to teach multiple subjects.

"I don't have all the answers and I haven't yet endorsed any particular plan," Patrick said. "But the cross-training and certification component of Tom Luna's plan does have benefits and would probably be more effective for smaller schools."

Matt Stevens, who teaches technology classes at Filer High, sees the I-STARS expertise component as causing problems for educators teaching under the High Schools that Work structure.

"I understand small school districts wanting to have a jack of all trades, but this goes completely against what we've been told in every school improvement meeting," he said. "We're part of High Schools that Work and if teachers are teaching four or five different subjects they ding us for that."

In contrast, the IEA's We Teach program would offer compensation for teachers who demonstrate increased competency and improved knowledge in subject areas at the novice, professional and master levels.

The IEA's biggest concerns center around I-STARS career opportunity contract requirements and the loss of due process.

"That's kind of political," Patrick said. "It gives school districts more flexibility, because Idaho schools don't really have tenure."

Under the plan's career opportunity section, teachers would have to give up tenure contracts to receive an annual pay increase of $2,400 above their regular salary. Two- or three-year contracts would then be offered based on a teacher's years of experience and at a school board's discretion.

"That means that a teacher could be terminated not only for poor job performance but for almost any other reason without due process," Hamby said. "If administrators have the documentation on teachers, it isn't difficult to get rid of the bad ones, and right now a teacher who has successfully taught for years is entitled to a renewable contract."

John E. Swayze may be reached at 326-7212 or Swayzef@aol.com.