APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

By James A. "Shanbrom" High School Coordinator

Our hard-working school employees deserve an appropriate and fair wage. This goes for teachers, administrators and classified employees.

In regard to teachers, I believe that good teachers should be rewarded with additional financial gains for doing an exemplary job. Not only is it not fair to those hard-working teachers who go the extra mile to achieve success for their students, but it is demoralizing for them to be paid no better than the least effective teacher who is not willing to do the extra things which lead to a student's success rate. It seems to me that student success could be measured and evaluated by pre-tests at the beginning of a school year and again by post-tests at the end of the year. These tests could be developed to reflect the needs of our local students and local school curricula as opposed to state-mandated tests which often reflect things not inherent in our students. Such pre and post testing would show how the students in a teacher's class have learned during the school year. Teachers whose students demonstrate a higher level of learning should be rewarded for making the extra effort to make sure students do their very best.

The same should be true for other school employees: Those who go the extra mile and accomplish more in their jobs should be rewarded accordingly.

As a member of the Antelope Valley High School District Board, I will work diligently to see that all employees get paid not only better, but more appropriately.