FYI: Florida media specialists

["Joan W. McClelland" <mcclellandj@JUNO.COM>]

Coming your way in a year or two is a new legislation called the BEST
Career Ladder Program. Several districts are piloting the program for the
remainder of this year which we are a part of. The legislation as it
stands now excludes media specialists, guidance counselors, ESE
specialists, and reading resource teachers from participating in this
program. We are excluded due to the state definition of classroom
teacher.  The BEST program provides for 4 career ladder positions,
associate teacher (classroom teacher without professional certification
or evaluated as a low-performance teacher) who receives no money,
professional teacher (classroom teachers who have received professional
certification) who receive $1000, lead teacher ( classroom teacher
responsible for leading others in the school) who receive $4000 and
mentor teacher (classroom teacher who serve as mentors to other teachers
and participate in direct instruction of low-performing students) who
receive $8000. I'm not sure if the money amount is the same across the
state and due to spring break in our county no one is available to answer
questions. The money is awarded at the end of the year in a lump sum. You
can read more about it http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm and
search for statue # 1012.231 in the year 2003. There is currently a
"Teacher Quality Bill" in the House that would partially allow for media
specialists to participate. I urge you to contact your representatives
and senators and encourage them to support and pass that bill. Let you
local school board know you are concerned also.

Also, in today's St. Petersburg paper,
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/03/24/State/2_legislative_panels_.shtml there
is information about a bill waiting to be passed that allows teachers to
qualify for an additional homestead exemption of as much as $25,000 which
also excludes media specialists and guidance counselors.

It is time for us to stop being an "Invisible Librarian" and voice our
concerns.

Joan McClelland, Media Specialist
Mabry Elementary
Tampa, FL
mcclellandj@juno.com
http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/~dalemabry.elementary

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