The decade that soon will come to a close has not been an easy one for the Columbus Municipal School District. Student population has declined, and with it essential funding. Student performance, too, fell. The district has been rated as “under-performing” for most of the decade. There have been four school superintendents since the decade began.
As you might imagine, the cumulative effect of those struggles has at times taken a toll on morale among teachers, staff and the public. Teacher retention was a challenge on a yearly basis.
We’ve previously mentioned a new sense of optimism in the district under the leadership of superintendent Cherie Labat. But as the 2010s come to a close, we note another bright spot.
Although the district still faces challenges — it has yet to move up in its school rating — the district shows signs of progress.
That, too, is reflected in teacher morale.
Labat and the CMSD Board of Trustees have taken measures to move the needle in a variety of ways. We are happy to note taking care of its teachers has been one of those priorities.
Tuesday, at a celebration at Joe Cook Elementary School, the district distributed more than $370,000 in incentives in the first year of its Teacher Incentive Pay Plan which was adopted by the board in 2018.
These bonuses are provided to schools whose accountability ratings improved over the previous year.
Faculty and staff members at Stokes-Beard Elementary School and Columbus High School, both of which improved this year in accountability ratings from Mississippi Department of Education, received a combined $181,354.40, while the district’s 54 math and science teachers — 15 of whom are new hires — received $189,000 total.
Unlike state incentives, TIPP provides a bonus for each staff and faculty member, from classroom teachers and cafeteria workers to custodial staff.
At schools that increase from an F to a D, certified staff receive $500, teacher assistants will receive $250 and support staff receive $50. Incentive amounts increase gradually for each letter grade, up to $2,000 for certified faculty at A-rated campuses.
CMSD has maintained a D overall rating for the last two years. However, during the 2018-19 school year, CHS improved from a C to a B, and Stokes-Beard jumped from an F to a B.
We are pleased that the district understands the important role of teachers and staff. They are essential to progress.
Prudent fiscal management by the board and administration has made programs like TIPP possible. Debt has been thoughtfully restructured and realistic budgets have been adhered to.
In a time when state funding of teacher salaries was being criticized as inadequate, here is an example of a school district taking it upon themselves to use local funds to create performance-based incentives. We see these incentives as an investment in those on the front lines of public education in our city. The bonuses are certain to improve morale and help the district retain some of its best employees. We believe the commitment the CMSD has made will produce dividends that carry the district into the next decade with a sense of confidence.
It’s money well-spent.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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