ID lawmaker offers compromise on teacher contracts

From the Idaho Statesman - Mar 18, 2009

House Education Committee Chairman Bob Nonini has pulled back a contentious plan to save money by limiting teacher contracts and on Wednesday offered a compromise bill. Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, proposed legislation last month to allow teacher contracts to expire at the end of each fiscal year and give school districts authority to modify contracts any time the state declares a fiscal emergency. Democratic lawmakers and the Idaho Education Association balked at the legislation, saying it appeared Nonini wanted the roughly 14,000 public school teachers in Idaho to make all the sacrifices in the tough economic climate.The proposal was put on hold as lawmakers sifted through the federal stimulus package and consulted groups such as the teachers union.Nonini introduced his new bill on teacher contracts to the House Education Committee."This is a compromise piece of legislation," Nonini said.It allows school boards to declare a fiscal emergency and modify teacher contracts through an extensive process that includes a public hearing on the changes and comment from the local teachers union.Union President Sherri Wood said she supports the plan because it moves decisions to the local level and outlines several steps school districts must follow when declaring a fiscal emergency and changing contracts."We were very appreciative that they were willing to pull back the original bill and actually negotiate another process," Wood told The Associated Press.Contracts could still be altered and teachers may take pay cuts under the proposal, Wood said, but the process is more inclusive and allows educators to file written arguments with school boards."Educators will receive it in a much more positive light if they know they have representation," she said.Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna has recommended cutting $62 million from the public schools budget for the fiscal year that starts in July, while Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has proposed $109 million in cuts.Nonini told the AP that he plans to propose at least two more bills to help achieve the reductions lawmakers will have to make in public education spending."In light of this economic crisis, we've got to find out how to get through the next two years," he said.