Cargill says merit pay will benefit state

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The idea isn't new.

For several decades, Oklahoma -- along with many other states -- has kicked around the concept of a merit pay system for public school teachers.

And while some lawmakers say nothing has been done about the issue, a form of merit pay was adopted in the mammoth education reform bill, House Bill 1017, developed during the term of then-Gov. Henry Bellmon.

Since then the idea has been an off-again, on-again thing -- being tossed back and forth between legislators, the governor and education leaders.

This year it's back.

Following two successive pay increase for state teachers, House Speaker Lance Cargill announced at an August press conference that he would push for the adoption of a merit-based system for teacher pay.

"We fund our schools with tax dollars, and taxpayers demand accountability," he said. "More money alone won't solve our problems in education."

Cargill said he believes most Oklahomans will support the idea.

"For most Oklahomans, performance pay makes perfect sense because it rewards teachers for success," he said. "Only investment coupled with higher standards, rising expectations and meaningful results can create the education system all Oklahomans deserve. By rewarding teachers based on their performance, we're raising the bar for education all across the state."

And to achieve that success, Cargill said the state needs to "incentivize excellence and reward success."

"We have supported teachers in a tremendous way over the past three years," he said. "Teacher pay raises are the highest in the country on a percentage basis."

But not everyone agrees with the Harrah Republican.

Union officials, teachers and even some school administrators say state lawmakers should keep their previous commitment to bring teacher pay in Oklahoma to the regional average before they tackle the issue of merit pay.

"Our legislative leaders made a promise to get to us to the regional (salary level) average over a five-year period," said Oklahoma Education Association President Roy Bishop. "Next session is the fifth year, and I believe they should keep that promise."

Oklahoma teachers, Bishop said, are "at least" $1,600 below the regional average. "If the speaker thinks we're at the regional average, he's incorrect," he said.

Cargill says the Legislature's commitment has been kept -- in three years instead of four.

"The commitment was to raise teachers' salaries by $4,800," he said. "And we've actually accelerated that to three years, rather than four."

Still the rhetoric has, at times, turned ugly.

In press releases, Cargill claims that "performance pay has never been given serious consideration in Oklahoma."

"We've basically had the same teacher compensation system for a hundred years," he said. "Some opponents are so stuck in the past that they can't possibly move this state forward. But now is the time for bold reform."

To do that, House leaders have planned a series of hearings designed to gather information about the issue.

The first hearing, held Aug. 21, featured Gary Ritter, an associate professor and endowed chair in education policy at the University of Arkansas' Department of Education Reform.

Ritter told lawmakers that performance pay programs in other states resulted in better results for students and a better work environment for teachers.

"This is a promising strategy. It's worth trying and evaluating rigorously," he said. "The one component we know improves student performance is the effectiveness of a teacher."

A second hearing, set for Sept. 11, will feature speakers from teachers' unions and school administrators.

"That's the whole point of having the hearing," said Damon Gardenhire, Cargill's spokesman. "So the speaker and other folks can gather information and take a close look at what will work best for Oklahoma teachers."