Wednesday, March 10, 2021 - 2:15 pm
Administration reviewed various options for closing out point balances from the certified compensation plan and discussed the positives and negatives with each option at the Board of Education meeting at Kromrey Middle School on Monday, March 8.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations Lori Ames noted the current compensation plan was developed 4-5 years ago. Staff could accumulate points based on participation in professional development and teams at the school or District level. Points were also provided for earning a master's degree and yearly experience. In order to receive a full pay (level) increase, which was worth $1,200, certified staff members had to earn 60 points, although they could earn partial increases if earned 15, 30 or 45 points. If staff earned more than 60 points in a year, the remaining points were banked.
Ames noted that while the compensation plan has been put on hold, staff have continued to receive annual raises. The District would like to develop a new compensation plan but staff who still have points in their bank be be compensated.
The District is recommending paying a stipend but only for points earned from attending a meeting, participated on a team or through professional development. If MCPASD paid $20 a point, that would cost the District about $1,090,000 and with benefits increases to $1.2 million. If a cap was created the cost would be less but it would end up penalizing the staff who accrued the most points, Ames noted. Another option would be to pay out only if reach a sub-level (15, 30 or 45) or full level (60) but that would still cost more than $1 million, although all certified staff would be impacted the same. Ames also noted the District could pay less than $20 a point to reduce the total expenditure.
Members were supportive of the plan to pay certified staff with no caps. Ames thought the payments would be made before the end of the school year. The Board will vote on a recommendation at its meeting on March 22.
"We want to honor the work that our people put in,'' Ames said.
The Finance Committee discussed the options at the Feb. 22 meeting.