Local News
Perdue pushing bill that rewards student performance
ATLANTA (AP) — Gov. Sonny Perdue is pushing legislation that would pay Georgia’s teachers based on student performance, not their advanced degrees.
Sen. Don Balfour, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, is introducing the bill.
Perdue said the state’s current system rewards teachers for their level of education instead of classroom achievement.
“Focusing on student improvement with other measures like peer evaluations aligns state funding with our policy priority: improving the education of our students,” Perdue said in a statement Monday. “The new pay model will help the state attract, reward, encourage and retain top teachers.”
Under the proposal, teachers and principals would have the choice to opt into the program. The State Board of Education would have to require a statewide evaluation system that factors in student improvement and peer observation of planning and instruction by July 1, 2011.
Education advocates were critical of the proposal. Tim Callahan, spokesman for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators representing more than 78,000 teachers, said the bill raises more questions than answers.
“How is the state going to afford this?” Callahan asked. “And the political cycle will quickly take over the policy cycle. The governor will be gone in nine months. The new governor may or may not be interested in continuing this kind of thing.”
Georgia Association of Educators President Jeff Hubbard said educators were not fully consulted as the legislation was being drafted. He said he hoped lawmakers would work with school systems as the process continues.
“Run it past everybody in a show of good faith, see how they feel now that the details are exposed,” Hubbard said, adding that a lot of the proposal is based on criteria not yet created, such as the evaluation system and pay scale.
“It’s almost like you’re handing over a blank check to the Legislature,” Hubbard said. “Our members are deeply concerned about it.”
- Local News
-
-
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
- Law enforcement across Southeast targeting DUIs
-
Former Ty Ty students enjoy reunion
Remembering the unique closeness of attending a country school, former Ty Ty students Anne Hayes Hall and Sandra Payne Johnson tracked down their third-grade classmates and organized a special reunion that has grown to include other Ty Ty alumni.
Hall and Johnson, members of the Class of 1963, had a 1954 photo taken on the schoolhouse steps. -
Ocilla 11-year-old plans fundraiser for Irwin library
Ashley Alderman, 11, of Ocilla will be raising funds Saturday, Sept. 11, for the Irwin County Public Library in Ocilla. This young girl’s love for her local library has given the library’s manager, Deborah Moorman, an optimistic view of today’s youth.
“She’s my adopted granddaughter,” Moorman said. “The world better watch out for her, because she’s going to do great things. She just wants to make a difference. She’s been too good in my life.” - Bulldog fans may have to leave keg at home
-
Annual festival returns to Tifton
A young woman who was a member of the original Girl Scout troop that organized the first Fiesta del Pueblo is taking the lead as president of this year’s festival planning committee because she believes it is a positive activity for all of the community.
-
Multiple shots fired
Fortunately no one was injured when multiple shots were fired at a person Thursday evening in the area of Maple Street and Bellview Avenue. A suspect in the case is in custody on an unrelated charge but police are continuing their investigation.
-
Jog for Jake set for Oct. 2
Jog for Jake 2010 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Tift County High School. Check-in opens at 5 p.m., the “5K Road Race” begins at 6:30 p.m. and the “One Mile Fun Run” begins at 7:15 p.m.
- Teachers at Omega Middle School awarded
-
Deal releases cover pages for tax returns
Republican gubernatorial nominee Nathan Deal late Thursday released cover pages for 28 years of personal income tax returns, spanning his time in elected office.
But he declined to make public filings for his Gainesville auto salvage business that became the focus of a congressional ethics probe. And tax "schedules" — that would provide more details on things like capital gains and rental income — were not included in the documents the Deal campaign posted online Thursday night.
Deal spokesman Brian Robinson declined to explain why. - More Local News Headlines
-
