Q Comp IS worth it!

The current News finds the Q-Comp plan being proposed by the teachers “difficult to endorse.” I disagree. Keep in mind that this is a fairly radical idea in public education…. to pay for performance.

How can a radical idea be implemented? Change theory says that it takes about five years to change the existing status quo. For a very long time public schools have utilized steps and lanes (experience and education) to reward teachers. It is time to consider performance pay. Short of blowing up the whole system Q-Comp allows the debate to begin and for the public to become acquainted with pay being given in a new way. Q-comp will allow the staff the opportunity to experience more intensive evaluation and also to debate the idea in a non-threatening environment.

The alternative: Not debating. Not experimenting. Not responding. Many schools will sit this round of debate out, and wait and see. I’m proud that the Northfield staff has made this proposal, and we should support it.

Q-Comp: Highlighting Changes in Staff Development

Q-Comp is a natural extension of the change in a staff development paradigm that has been brewing over the last decade. As the formal Q-Comp plan so well created by Northfield teachers highlights:

* Staff development should be based on data driven needs assessments.
* Staff development should be tied to building achievement goals (based on data).
* Staff development should be a process rather than a one-time event/activity.
* Staff development should be embedded into the workday.
* Staff development should be directly connected to student achievement.
* Staff development should be planned collaboratively by participants.
* Staff development should enhance teacher knowledge/leadership capacity.

There are actually schools in Minnesota where the shift in paradigm has NOT been made. There are schools where the superintendent controls staff development money and doles it out as he/she sees fit. There are schools where there is a per-capita division of the staff development money, where each teacher gets a set amount and can make decisions about how it is spent.

Fortunately Northfield teachers are well acquainted with the best practices listed above. They were able to capitalize on this and quickly create an excellent Q-Comp plan.

Quality Compensation (Q-Comp) Q/A

Q: In one sentence, what is Q-Comp?
A: It is a program brought forward in the last legislative session by Governor Pawlenty that provided extra incentive dollars for districts that agreed to begin an intensive staff development and evaluation plan, and then find a way to compensate teachers for performance.

Q: How much money will be available?
A: Northfield will gain $737,623, all of which must be utilized for teacher mentoring, staff development, and compensation. This is all new money, and it is provided by the State.

Q: Is there any local levy included in that amount?
A: Districts may contribute to Q-Comp above and beyond the state money noted above. An extra $271,437 could be raised through a local levy if the Northfield School Board approves in this December’s levy certification.

Q: Will the board approve of this local levy?
A: The board approves of the Q-Comp plan, but it is leaning away from a local levy. Because the district has been through a severe budget cut in the last year, and anticipates even further budget cuts in the next cycle, restraint is very important. Voters will be asled to renew the local operating levy in the future, and the board is concerned that the voters understand that every effort is made to contain costs.