Omlin letter: Charter teacher contract

Northwest Professional Educators, Idaho’s nonunion educators’ association, was proud to support the recently passed Charter Teacher Contract bill. Our members are eager to embrace flexibility in teacher contracts and believe this bill is a step in the right direction for Idaho’s charter schools.

Eighty percent of our member survey respondents agreed that as the profession changes, states must offer competitive salaries and benefits packages with different types of individuals in mind.

While the IEA says contract flexibility is a threat to a “level playing field” for teachers, our members believe it will open up opportunities to get the best teachers to the students most in need of highly qualified teachers.

For example, NWPE members support contract flexibility such as à la carte benefits plans where employees can pick and choose salaries and benefits based on need. For example, a recent college graduate may choose a higher base salary with a lower benefits package for the first few years of teaching.

The dynamics of the education field are changing. Teachers are not staying until retirement. Contract flexibility would increase the ability to attract the best and brightest to the classroom and promises true professionalism for educators.

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 11:13 PM with the headline "Omlin letter: Charter teacher contract."