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It Pays To Stay At USF Patel

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By MICHELE SAGER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

USF CAMPUS - Teachers who stay at the USF Patel Charter School will get some extra cash this year.

The board for the charter elementary school recently approved a plan to give its teachers $1,500 if they return to teach next school year. The plan is a move to retain teachers and motivate them to get additional training and education.

About half of the charter school's teachers this year are new to the school, with four starting straight out of college. School leaders say they frequently lose teachers to relocations, changes in careers and higher salary offers from other schools. The starting salary at USF Patel is $37,000.

USF Patel gave its teachers a 4.5 percent raise last year, but the Hillsborough County School District gave its teachers an 8 percent raise. Although USF Patel is part of the school district, its board members set a separate pay scale because of the charter status.

With public schools facing a budget crisis this year, education leaders predict few schools will dole out large pay raises for next school year, so schools are turning to other incentives to keep teachers happy.

The USF Patel board looked at offering tuition help for teachers who wanted to pursue a master's degree at the University of South Florida; the plan was cost-prohibitive, so the board crafted a retention bonus plan.

Any USF Patel teacher who has completed a year of successful teaching (determined by the principal) and signs a contract to teach during the 2008-09 school year will receive the $1,500 bonus. If the teacher leaves before the year is up, that teacher will have to pay back the bonus at a prorated amount.

"If there is a chance they are thinking about leaving, this would be a positive step to entice them to stay," said Principal Rylene Stein.

The board said it also will continue to look at ways to promote to teachers the benefits of working at a school on a college campus.

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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