More pay for some, merit pay for others — legislators Tuesday forwarded a handful of bills that may affect teacher salaries.

SB35, would appropriate $7 million to pay teachers highly qualified in math, science and technology an extra $5,000 a year in hopes of stemming a teacher shortage in those areas.

"We have a crisis in our state in having qualified math and science teachers in our school system, especially secondary schools," said sponsoring Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper.

The bill, which passed the Senate Education Committee, is supported by the State Board of Education. But the Utah Education Association opposes it, because school districts already have ways to offer certain teachers higher salaries. Vik Arnold, director of government relations and political action, said shortages exist in other subject areas, too. Having some teachers getting the boost in pay based on their subject of teaching, while others aren't, could cause divisiveness among teachers.

But Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, said just because the bill doesn't address every area doesn't mean it's a bad bill.

"It's interesting that we accept an industry with differentiated concept based on ability and market demand, even in public higher education," said Bell. "I think this is the day that we have to unbundle that concept in public education ... and I think this is going to have an impact, there's no doubt about it."

Another measure, SB39, also sponsored by Stephenson, would create a task force of legislators and education leaders that would look at issues related to math and science education and make a report that would come before the Legislature next session — hopefully finding ways to address the shortages in those areas. That bill also passed the Senate committee.

A third bill, which sets up task force looking at "performance incentives" for teachers, including merit pay, passed the House Education Standing Committee. HB181, sponsored by Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George, directs a task force of legislators, school board leaders and teachers to find fair ways to motivate teachers to boost student achievement. The task force would issue a report by Nov. 30.

"We will involve everybody" in discussions, Last said. "If everybody's not buying into this, it will not work."

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Contributing: Jennifer Toomer-Cook

E-mail: terickson@desnews.com