Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, suggests creating about an $8 million fund for school districts wanting to give middle- and high-school math and science teachers year-round work — translating to about $10,000 in additional pay. Summer offerings would include remedial and advanced classes, math or science camps. The idea is to better spread around teachers who are in short supply and prevent them from seeking higher-paying jobs.

The State Board of Regents suggests a similar pilot program for high schools only, bringing teachers $10,000 to $15,000 more pay a year.

Provo High lengthened teacher contracts a little over a decade ago under a temporary state program, said its former principal, Patti Harrington, now state superintendent of public instruction. "Almost every teacher wanted to extend their contract out there," she said.

Another proposal out of Washington School District: a trimester system that's basically year-round, creating a need for one-third fewer teachers in a growing school district. The extra time for teachers would boost teachers' salaries an estimated 60 percent, meaning a beginning teacher's salary would go from $29,500 to $47,000 a year, according to the proposal district personnel director Lyle Cox offered to a K-16 Alliance task force last winter.

The thinking is, schools would better use the resources they already have. Pay and benefits of new teachers the district wouldn't have to hire could be spread to those already working.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper and subcommittee chairman, said the proposal would differently distribute resources and not require additional investment.

The plan seems like a no-brainer, he said. "But we know the cultural shift for the public is the deterrent to this."

And it's likely not as perfect as it seems, especially for a statewide model, State Board of Education member Deborah Roberts said. "This looks beautiful," she said. "But sometimes we get off in la-la land ... and it's not a common-sense application."

Among other proposals:

• A college loan forgiveness program for teacher aides to become teachers.

• Extra 10 days' pay, or $2,000, for special education teachers to do paperwork.

• Streamline the process to bring back into the classroom the some 28,000 teachers with a lapsed license.

---

E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com