Bonus in store for high-tech teachers

Teacher incentives are always a good thing.

Or are they?

Education leaders have mixed reactions to Sen. Harry Reid's announcement of legislation that provides for a $5,000 bonus for teachers who are trained and certified in information technology.

The legislation includes $100 million for the teacher bonuses, along with another $100 million in matching federal grants for partnerships among universities, the private sector and technology training organizations.

"We are going to have to provide these kinds of incentives if we are going to survive," Clark County School District Superintendent Brian Cram said. "Other districts are providing mortgages, hiring incentives and other bonuses. We continue to need 1,500 to 2,000 new teachers a year."

Sue Strand, president of the Clark County Classroom Teachers Association, sees it differently.

"When are they going to take the bull by the horns and put teacher salaries where they belong?" she said. "I am concerned about this. The incentives are a one-shot deal. Incentives don't make any difference if the dollars are not there for salaries.

"We need to generate revenue for salaries. Without teachers, we do not even have a school district."

Reid, D-Nev., scheduled a press conference to announce the measure this morning at Mojave High School with students, teachers and Michael Calderone, president and chief executive officer of Preference Technologies, a Las Vegas Internet-based company.

Dubbed the Information Technology Act of 2000, the plan is intended to help promote the high-tech industry in Southern Nevada and educate Nevada students so they are eligible for high-paying technology careers. It also addresses the need for more information and technology support positions.

According to the Labor Department, more than 130,000 people who have training in computer science, systems engineering and systems analysis will be needed every year for the next 10 years.

Under the legislation, the secretaries of the Education and Labor departments would establish the requirements for the teacher bonus eligibility. The Computing Technology Industry Association and the Information Information Technology Training Association, in consultation with state officials, would set the information technology certification standards.

Additionally, the partnership grants would be used for information technology training programs with a special emphasis on educating high school dropouts, minorities, women, older Americans, veterans, American Indians and dislocated workers.

Funding for the programs would be available in 2001.

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