A skeptical House Appropriations Committee on Thursday morning killed Senate Bill 08-065, the bipartisan measure that would have created a state grant fund that school districts could have used to pay for studies of alternative teacher pay systems.

The bipartisan measure lost on a 4-9 vote, and the committee then postponed it indefinitely.

But, just two hours later, the full Senate did an end-run around the committee and inserted the program and its $2 million into House Bill 08-1388, the 2008-09 school finance bill. (See story here.)

The original measure was sponsored by Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, one the GOP's leading voices on education. Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, was carrying the bill in the House. House Education Chair Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, also had signed on to the bill.

Committee members of both parties expressed skepticism about the bill. Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, wondered about the "utility" of spending money on studies rather than directly on teachers. Rep. Al White, R-Hayden, complained that the bill would take $2 million from the State Education Fund. White has been especially vocal about the dangers of too much spending from the fund.

Some education reformers believe more flexible pay systems that, for instance, reward teachers who work in failing schools, can improve student achievement.

A few larger districts, such as Denver, have implemented such systems. Denver's ProComp plan took foundation money and years to discussions to create, and a voter-approved tax increase to pay for it.

Supporters of SB 08-065 have argued that the grant program would help smaller districts that don't have the expertise or money to do the planning and negotiation necessary to create such new systems.

The committee also delayed until 4 p.m. consideration of Senate Bill 08-212, the CAP4K education reform plan. That reduces the bill's chance of being heard on the House floor today, unless there's an evening session. 

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