Simple.

Stop treating them like small children checking off their chore chart.

The whole thing is a big joke that just shows the legislature has $20,000,000 that they have been holding out from the teachers that deserved it many years ago.

"It seems to me to be a callous attitude," said Stephenson

I don't doubt for one second that he said that either.

It really does feel like they are being treated like small children with mommy trying to bribe them to do the job.

Obviously the districts either don't need the money or they are not willing to hold themselves accountable.

Since they constantly say they need more money, that only leaves one explanation for why they have not applied.

The compensation plan timeline did not give adequate time for many districts to complete. Many districts had neither the time nor the man power to create a plan to meet deadlines.

The whole concept is insulting. They are holding back money that schools need in exchange for jumping through their hoops, then call them names for not jumping high enough. If there is money available, it should go to the school. Teachers and schools shouldn't be treated like puppies that need treats as incentives to do their jobs.

would have been miffed no matter what they all did. That means this is not news. What do the DN reporters do wait outside his mansion and wait for the latest drivel?

Sometimes the extra incentives aren't worth it.

I don't know the specifics of this program. However, some of what I've seen as a teacher's husband: A few years ago there was a big rush to get web sites up for all the schools. My wife has some experience and they asked her to: 1-build a complete web site for the school, 2-build a page for each teacher at the school, 3-teach all the teachers at the school how to update their web pages, 4-provide support to all the teachers as they update their pages, 5-update the school's site every week during the school year. For this she would receive $200. She told them politely it wasn't worth it.

If a school must create new measurements, train teachers, gather the data, devote a secretary to formatting the data and reporting it to the state for a few thousand dollars, it often isn't worth the school's time. That time could be spent actually educating.

P.S. My wife starts teaching 2nd grade Monday with 34 fresh faced 2nd graders in her class.

People here hit it right on the nose.

Stop treating the teachers like little kids.

I looked at Provo's plan and there are 8 different pathways to get anywhere from $100 - $1,000 but it doesn't say how much you will get, just a range.

The teachers are all very confused by it all and it comes at the worst time possible.

Do they try to figure out what hoops to jump through in order to get $100 or do they prepare for the first weeks of school and do their jobs as teachers?