Using pay as lure
In Madison, officials have put forward several proposals to increase the number of minority teachers by changing the way they hire and train new teachers and by partnering with UW-Madison to implement programs that entice district students who are minorities to become teachers, or providing classes for school staff without a teaching license to turn them into classroom teachers.
The district is also considering strategies to attract and keep minority teachers, including providing relocation services and higher pay, said Deirdre Hargrove-Krieghoff, human resources director.
Madison Teachers Inc. executive director John Matthews said the teacher contract allows the district to pay a new teacher more than the entry salary in order to attract teachers with a needed skill or for another reason, and also allows the district to pay signing bonuses. So far, he said, the district has only used bonuses to attract teachers from Spain.