There was unanimous support from all sides this morning for the third and final version of the teacher pay bill, which cleared the House Education Committee and headed to the full House amid compliments and thanks. The final bill will raise state funding for teacher pay every year for the next five years, with next year’s boost at $33.5 million. Teachers would qualify for the raises by meeting performance standards along with factors including experience and additional education, and additional premiums could be earned for leadership and for “master” teachers. (Final amounts paid to teachers are determined by school districts, but the law specifies the amount that districts would be provided by the state.)

Robin Nettinga, executive director of the Idaho Education Association, joined leaders of the Idaho School Adminstrators Association the Idaho School Boards Association, the Idaho Rural Schools Association, Idaho Business for Education, and the superintendent of the Boise School District in speaking in favor of the bill, HB 296, this morning. “It’s been a long and challenging process to get to this point, but it’s nice to be here,” Nettinga told the committee. “We come away knowing that we can work together through difficult issues and disagreements without being disagreeable.”

“You spent hours listening to teachers last week,” she told the lawmakers. “They felt respected, they felt valued and they felt supported. … We’re hopeful that the work that we’ve begun in this session signals a new beginning for us, so thank you for your part in this.”

Nettinga said key changes in the final bill from teachers’ perspective include that teachers will be involved in discussions on how the new pay system works, and “teachers will not be held accountable for things that are out of their control.” She praised all parties’ “willingness to help quell many of the apprehensions voiced by teachers.”

Don Coberly, Boise School District superintendent, said, “For nearly eight years, the debate about public education in Idaho has been rancorous and divisive.” But now, he said, “We believe that the product is a bill, HB 296, that has the potential to not only change the discussion about education but the direction for our schools, our teachers and our students.” He praised lawmakers for backing away from requirements to use the state-mandated SBAC test as part of teachers’ evaluations, as he said “recent research has indicated the use of standardized test results in evaluation is ill-advised.”

Rod Gramer, president of Idaho Business for Education, said, “You have created a bill that although not perfect, is one that can receive wide, diverse and bipartisan support.”

As for the committee members, Rep. Ryan Kerby, R-New Plymouth, said, “I completely support this.” Rep. Hy Kloc, D-Boise, said, “This is what I thought government would be like. … This has been great.” Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, said, “To have a bill that’s as big, a 34-page bill that spends more than $100 million, impacts thousands and thousands of people in this state … and to be at the point that we have the degree of universal support that we have for this bill I think is a really remarkable achievement for which you are to be applauded. … I think it’s amazing, and a week ago I wasn’t sure it could be done, but you all have truly moved a mountain here.” She called it “the most positive experience I have had since coming to the Legislature.”

All sides credited House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, and vice-chair Rep. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, along with Marilyn Whitney, education aide to Gov. Butch Otter, and an array of others. DeMordaunt told the committee, “Thank you all very much for your efforts, for your hard work, for your commitment – we’re going to need that to see this through.” He added, “Tonight, I may sleep.”