A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association to reconsider its prior vote not to accept a $400,000 grant that would provide incentive pay for teachers at two elementary schools.

WHEREAS, a private donor has offered to provide a $400,000 grant through the Nashville Alliance for Public Education to serve as incentive bonus pay for teachers that succeed at two underperforming elementary schools in the Metropolitan Nashville public school system; and

WHEREAS, this grant would provide a bonus of up to $6,000 for teachers and up to $10,000 for principals at Alex Green and Inglewood Elementary Schools if students showed increased performance; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association (MNEA), which is the collective bargaining agent for Metropolitan public school teachers, voted not to accept this $400,000 incentive pay grant; and

WHEREAS, the two schools that were to benefit from this grant are on the No Child Left Behind low-performing list, and are in great need of quality teachers that have the skills and experience to ensure that the students are reaching their full academic potential; and

WHEREAS, since this grant is purely for incentive pay for teachers, and would not constitute a merit-based pay system for teachers, the MNEA should be supportive of this grant and any other program that would provide additional compensation to its members.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association to reconsider its prior vote not to accept a $400,000 grant that would provide incentive pay for teachers at two elementary schools.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Jayme Merritt, the president of the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye Wallace