Bethlehem Area School Board member Judi Dexter wants to do something about it. She tells me she's considering linking administrative pay increases to performance. This kind of incentive pay will be implemented next year in Pittsburgh, currently ranked #470.
Principals in the Pittsburgh Public Schools will have their skills rated under a pay-for-performance plan to be introduced next school year.
In what Superintendent Mark Roosevelt called a major part of his turnaround agenda, the district is doing away with annual step increases that principals received without regard to performance. Instead, after 2007-08, each principal will be eligible for increases of up to $2,000 in base pay and bonuses of up to $10,000.
The plan, outlined at a school board Education Committee meeting last night, is designed to make principals more accountable for staff and student performance.
"Good schools have good principals," Mr. Roosevelt said. "Poor schools have weak leadership."
