Jan. 30, 2001-- Reported by Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer
Many Utah lawmakers are looking for ways to keep good teachers in the state's public schools, even though they can't offer much higher pay.
Proposals call for more benefits.
Much like when your own company tries to offer new incentives, lawmakers are trying to tempt quality teachers to stay on the job.
By day she teaches reading, by night, she attends graduate school.
Roberta Terragno and all Utah teachers must update their skills to keep their certificates.
But they know all too well the cost of tuition.
Roberta Terragno: "THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR PROFESSION UNLESS YOU GO TO SCHOOL."
So she and many other Utah teachers praise a plan at the legislature that would waive most if not all tuition costs for teachers who enhance their skills.
Roberta Terragno/Teacher: "I THINK A LOT OF TEACHERS WILL BENEFIT A LOT BECAUSE IT INCREASES YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASE, AND YOU CAN'T BE STAGNANT WHEN YOU'RE A TEACHER."
Teachers say in the long run, it can't help but benefit students when teachers have the most recent research and training.
Paul Sirstins/Teacher: "THE MORE WE LEARN, THE MORE THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN. LEARNING IS AN ONGOING PROCESS."
There's another benefit on the table, one that would allow teachers to switch districts without losing their tenure.
Right now, if Paul Sirstins were to transfer, he could lose thousands of dollars by losing seniority.
Paul Sirstins/Teacher: "MONEY WISE, IT WOULD BE A TOUGH DECISION, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WOULD LOSE MONEY."
Lawmakers hope a change here, could encourage more veteran teachers to stay on board.
These are just the start of ways lawmakers hope to avoid a teacher shortage by improving the benefits.
Rep. Loraine Pace/ (R) Logan: "I THINK A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS YEAR WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE IT A MORE POSITIVE EXPERIENCE TO BE A TEACHER IN UTAH."
This doesn't mean benefits alone will pursuade teachers.
They're also watching the legislature to see what happens with money for things like class size and, yes, teacher salaries.
