Please take the Oregon School District Compensation Survey:
www.OSDsurvey.com
OREGON SCHOOL DISTRICT Dear Community Member, In an effort to retain and recruit great educators, the Oregon School District is seeking feedback on a new educator compensation model and potential operational referendum. The district’s compensation model builds on the wellknown fact that the knowledge and skill of educators are crucial determinants of students’ success. The model also acknowledges how the field of education continues to evolve, drawing on current research to develop better teaching strategies and ensure that all students learn to their maximum potential. In addition, it recognizes that Dane County is a competitive marketplace for great educators. If we truly want to continue retaining and recruiting outstanding educators, we need a compensation model that treats them as professionals and pays them accordingly. Moreover, we recognize that educators require continuous training in order to maintain and raise standards.
OREGON SCHOOL DISTRICT 123 East Grove Street Oregon, Wisconsin 53575 www.oregonsd.org
The Oregon School District Educator Compensation Model was created with these facts in mind, in collaboration with educators from throughout the district. If the model were to be implemented, it would require passage of an operational referendum. Besides seeking to provide you with additional information about the compensation model, the Oregon School Board also invites all district residents to participate in a brief but critically important survey. You can find the survey at: www.osdsurvey.com. The survey, which will be open from January 2nd to January 11, is anonymous and takes only about 10 minutes to complete. We would like to stress the importance of your participation. The board will use survey information from community members to evaluate solutions that meet community needs, are financially responsible, and move the district forward. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Krause, board president, at 608-237-1451 or sbdk1@oregonsd. net, or Dr. Brian Busler, district superintendent, at 608-835-4003 or bsb@oregonsd.net. Sincerely, Dan Krause Board President
Dr. Brian Busler District Superintendent
CONTACT US with any questions: 608.835.4003 Dr. Brian Busler
@
bsb@oregonsd.net
Here are some additional details of the plan: There are six educator levels. Educators would move through the levels based on years of service, education level and certifications achieved, demonstrated leadership, and achievements aligned with district goals and days worked.
• The first level, “Beginning Educator Level,” will have a minimum two years’ probation. Beginning educators would receive a base wage of $40,000 with annual wage increases as they gain years of experience. Educators work an additional three days beyond their regular contract to promote their professional growth.
PROPOSED EDUCATOR COMPENSATION MODEL The following is background information about the proposed educator compensation model. In 2013, the Oregon School Board created a committee to develop a new model for educator compensation. The committee included five educators appointed by the Oregon Education Association along with four administrators and one school board member. The goal of the committee was to create a compensation model that empowers our district to attract, develop, and retain highly qualified educators and includes incentives for educators to implement effective educational strategies. The committee’s plan builds on research and views education as a craft that requires ongoing professional growth. Instead of relying on years of service and automatic compensation increases, the new model provides educators with autonomy and choice in their professional progression. The new proposal emphasizes continuous professional development that supports the district’s goals for student achievement. As a result, educators can move much faster through compensation levels, which encourages professional growth and mastery and strengthens the district’s ability to attract, develop, and retain high-quality educators. Most importantly, this translates to higher levels of learning and better educational outcomes for our children.
www. OSDsurvey.com
• The second level, “Professional Educator Level (A),” has a starting wage of $50,000. Educators at this level would work an additional five days beyond their regular contract to expand their professional growth.
• The third level, “Professional Educator Level (B),” has a starting wage of $60,000. Educators at this level would have a district-approved master’s degree or National Board Certified Educator credential and have spent one year at level A. Those at this level will work an additional 10 days beyond their regular contract on their professional growth.
Because the new compensation model requires additional m first. The board is considering an operational referendum compensation model. This sum would have an estimated an of property value.
• The fourth level, “Professional Educator Level (C),” has a starting wage of $65,000. Educators at this level have a district-approved master’s degree or National Board Certified Educator credential and have spent two years at level B. Those at this level will work an additional 15 days beyond their regular contract to develop their professional skills.
• The fifth level, “Professional Educator Level (D),” has a starting wage of $70,000. Educators at this level have a district-approved master’s degree or National Board Certified Educator credential and have spent five years at level C. Those at this level will work an additional 20 days beyond their regular contract to promote their professional growth.
• The sixth level, “Leading Educator Level,” has a starting wage of $75,000. Educators at this level have a district-approved master’s degree or National Board Certified Educator credential and are conferred by a committee through an application process. No more than 10 educators may be at this level at one time. Leading educators will work an additional 25 days beyond their regular contract in leadership roles.
money, an operational referendum would need to be passed in an amount not to exceed $2.9 million to fund the new nnual additional property tax impact of $150 per $100,000
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Why is the board considering the new educator compensation model? Other Dane County School Districts, with whom the Oregon School District competes to retain and recruit great educators, are changing their compensation plans. In order to ensure that our district can retain and recruit the best educators, thereby providing the greatest opportunity for our children, we must also implement a new compensation plan. The change in the compensation model reflects the fact that today’s best educators are continuously engaged in their own learning and development. The new educator compensation model provides a clear pathway for educators to advance through their careers.
Is passage of an operational referendum required to implement the new educator compensation model? More money will have to be committed to compensation under the new model, which means an operational referendum will be required. As a result of the last several state budgets, more of the responsibility for funding public schools has been shifted to local taxpayers.
Didn’t the district just pass a referendum? In November, community members in the Oregon School District passed a referendum to address the district’s facility needs. This referendum is reflected in 2014 tax bills. Under state law, an operational referendum must be passed to exceed the district’s revenue limit, allowing the district to tax at a higher level for the additional resources that the new
compensation plan demands. If the operational referendum were to pass in April, the new educator compensation model would be implemented in the fall for the 2015-16 school year.
What happens if the board decides not to proceed at this time or if an operational referendum does not pass? If the board does not pass the new compensation model, the District will continue without a plan. The board will keep working to find theright solution to achieve the aims we have set out.
Has the Oregon Education Association endorsed the model? The Oregon Education Association is scheduled to vote in mid-January on whether to endorse the model. The district will not pursue this new model if it does not have the support of our teaching staff.