Forest Lake teachers reject merit pay change

By GREGORY A. PATTERSON, Star Tribune

Last update: April 24, 2009 - 9:20 PM

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Forest Lake teachers have rejected a revised version of the state's "Q Comp" or "Quality Compensation" teacher merit pay program and are set to vote soon on a proposed contract that could freeze their wages over the next two years.

Earlier this week, the union that represents Forest Lake teachers voted to withdraw from a Q Comp program that district officials had sought to revise to lower the amount teachers would be eligible to earn.

The proposal, which was opposed by 58 percent of the teachers who voted, would have reduced the maximum potential payout to teachers from $3,000 this year to $1,800 next year. District officials said they needed to make the change because the plan cost them $300,000 more this year than anticipated.

The higher costs resulted from higher student achievement on tests and higher costs for professional development. The district had planned to spend $1.6 million on the program but ended up spending $1.9 million.

Andy Stoyke, president of the Forest Lake Education Association and a teacher at Wyoming Elementary School, said he wasn't sure why teachers opposed the revised Q Comp plan.

"If you asked 10 different people you might get five, 10 different reasons," Stoyke said.

He also said he was uncertain what effect nixing the Q Comp plan would have on an upcoming vote on a new two-year contract between the district and the 512-member teacher unit.

"We'll just have to wait and see what the vote is," Stoyke said.

The new contract, which has been tentatively approved by district and teachers union leaders, freezes salaries and saves the district $2.4 million over each year.

Gregory A. Patterson • 612-673-7287