Could Dist. 211 teacher evaluations lead to merit pay? Union says no

A new evaluation system for teachers in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 has at least one board member wondering if a merit-based salary scale is on its way for teachers.

Classes started Wednesday for the five schools at District 211. While students reunite with their classmates after being away for the summer, teachers will adjust to the new pilot evaluation program, which officials describe as a radical departure from the old process.

Teachers and district staff hope the program will give teachers, specifically new instructors, more concrete ways on how they can improve on the job.

"We can tell them specifically where we want them to go," said Robert Grimm, assistant superintendent for personnel.

There's a new focus on using student achievement through tests to measure teacher performance. There's also more encouragement for teachers to communicate with their peers to learn the best techniques to boost student learning, as well as taking into account what teachers do outside of the classroom.

The goal is to help teachers improve, teachers union President Jason Spoor said. Students won't see too many changes off the bat due to the new program, he added. Spoor is a social studies teacher at Fremd in Palatine. He said he approached District 211 administration three years ago when he was the union vice president. He felt the old evaluation system was outdated and needed revision, and called the previous system a simple checklist that didn't help teachers grow.

"The old document didn't look at the teacher as a whole," he said. "It didn't really encourage the teacher to reflect on your own practices as a professional."

District 211 board member Debra Strauss lauded the new program at last week's board meeting and wondered if it would lead to changing how teachers are paid.

"The next expectation would be that the pay structure would be merit based," Strauss said.

Spoor balked at the idea of a merit-pay system, which has seen some implementation with Chicago Public Schools.

"The District 211 teachers union does not in any way support or endorse merit pay and we will not be amenable to merit-based salaries as long as I am president," Spoor said.

A merit-based pay structure was never discussed while union and district officials developed the system, Spoor added. They put the program together while the district and teachers were in contract negotiations, Spoor pointed out.

The program meets the state board of education's new standards for evaluations. Grimm played a pivotal role in developing the program. He touted the evaluations as cutting edge and said he will eventually head to Springfield and present the program to educators, with the feeling other schools will follow the example set by District 211.

Spoor said some veteran teachers may need extra time to get comfortable with the new program, as old habits are hard to break. The program aims to give nontenured teachers more advice and help motivate tenured teachers who may fall victim to apathy.

"The strength of this new document is this has been a collaborative effort," District 211 Superintendent Nancy Robb said.

The program will be evaluated after the school year and some changes may be made for the 2011-12 year.