Four town meetings are scheduled during May for all DPS staff and the community to learn more about the recently-unveiled proposed new compensation system for teachers in Denver Public Schools:

Thursday, May 8

• 4:30-6 p.m., Henry Middle School, 3005 S. Golden Way
• 7-8:30 p.m., Bruce Randolph Middle School, 3955 Steele St.

Tuesday, May 13

• 4:30-6 p.m., Thomas Jefferson High School, 3950 S. Holly St.
• 7-8:30 p.m., Columbian Elementary School, 2925 W. 40th Ave.

The meetings will feature a brief presentation by members of the Joint Task Force on Teacher Compensation, excerpts from an informational video about the proposal and a question and answer session.

The proposed new compensation system would reward teachers for improving student achievement, receiving successful performance evaluations, working in the most academically needy schools and improving their skills and knowledge. In the new system, teachers would exchange guaranteed annual increases based on experience for the opportunity to achieve higher salaries earlier in their career based on performance.

The draft recommendation was developed by the Denver Public Schools - Denver Classroom Teachers Association Joint Task Force on Teacher Compensation. Members include: Richard Allen, Assistant Superintendent of Budget and Finance, Denver Public Schools (Co-chair); Gary Justus, math teacher, Abraham Lincoln High School (Co-chair); Jeff Buck, math teacher, South High School; Barbara Cooper, principal, McGlone Elementary School; Diane Deschanel, school nurse, Manual High School; Pete Hergenreter, principal, Fred N. Thomas Career Education Center; Barbara Nash, retired principal, Merrill Middle School; Andre Pettigrew, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Denver Public Schools; Carmen Rhodes, Denver Area Labor Federation; Jamie Rich, student advisor, Hamilton Middle School; Diane Waco, first-grade teacher, Fallis Elementary School; and Lee White, George K. Baum, Inc.

The proposal is a draft that will be revised in the fall after a period of comment from teachers, administrators and the community. A final version of the proposal will be released in November and will be used as a starting point for collective bargaining in 2004. Teachers and the Board of Education will vote on the bargained proposal before March 19, 2004.

Information on the draft recommendation for a Comprehensive Professional Compensation System for Teachers can be found at www.denverteachercompensation.org.