Characters:
Superintendent: Dr. Tonta
Union Head: Ms. Borris
Head of Personal: Dr. Head
Secretary: Miss Impote
Reporter 1: Ms. Glass
Reporter 2: Mr. Hawk
Reporter 3: Mr. Curioso
EVERYONE sits around a large table, facing a screen with the opening title of the PowerPoint on it.
MISS IMPOTE has a laptop out and is controlling the PowerPoint.
MR CURIOSO has a notebook out and is ready to jot down notes.
Dr. Tonta: Are we ready to begin? Miss Impote? Everyone?
Miss Impote: Yes, ma'am. I'm ready.
There are nods around the table as people demonstrate their readiness.
Dr. Tonta: Very well then. Dr. Head, you may begin.
DR HEAD stands up and clears her throat meaningfully. She aims a laser pointer at the screen.
Dr. Head: Performance pay for teachers is what we are going to discuss today. I'd like to begin by discussing our reasons.
MISS IMPOTE moves to the next slide.
Dr. Head: Over the last few decades we have discovered that there are teachers that perform well until they get tenure. Upon gaining tenure they slack off and barely teach, letting children slip through the cracks. Under our current pay system they keep getting pay increases even as their performance slips. Under performance pay this wouldn't happen.
MISS IMPOTE moves to the next slide.
Dr. Head: Under this new method pay would be determined by test scores and observations. A teacher's students must show improvement on their state tests over the school year. This determines 33% of the teacher's income.
MISS IMPOTE moves to the next slide.
Dr. Head: Another 33% would be determined by four observations during the school. Two of these will be done by the principal and another two by the county. The scores of these observations will be averaged together.
MISS IMPOTE moves to the next slide.
Dr. Head: The final 33% will come from the teacher's level of education and years of service. Are there any questions?
DR HEAD looks around the table.
MS GLASS raises her hand.
Dr Head: Yes? Ms. Glass?
Ms. Glass: Who will be observing from the county? Surely not Dr. Tonta?
Dr. Tonta: Oh, no, I shan't be observing teachers. That will be done by other teachers.
The room falls quiet for a moment, surprised looks on people's faces.
Ms. Borris: Teachers will be doing observations? That is NOWHERE in the contract we signed with you. As the Union Head I MUST protest this. You cannot be pulling teachers from their classrooms whenever you feel like it.
Dr. Head: Don't worry Ms. Borris, these teachers won't have classrooms. They'll spend an entire year traveling from school to school, conducting observations. This will be done on a volunteer basis. If you have any more questions about the contract, I'll discuss them with you after the meeting.
MS. BORRIS goes quiet, but begins to glower at Dr. Head.
Mr. Curioso: Excuse me, Dr. Head.
Dr. Head: Yes? Mr. Curioso?
Mr. Curioso: I was wondering, about the tests – how will you use the state sanctioned tests for kindergarten, first, second, and third grades? They don't take the tests before the end of third grade, do they?
Dr. Head: Don't worry, the state plans to create a test to use at the beginning and the end of the year. Any more questions? Yes? Mr. Hawk, isn't it?
Mr. Hawk: When will performance pay be implemented?
Dr. Head: This next school year. Our staff has been working furiously to make this happen. We're going to be the first county in the state to adopt this plan, so we're getting a huge bonus in funding because of it.
DR HEAD smiles cheerfully at the table as the reporters and union head look shocked.
Mr. Curioso: Wait, let me see if I have this straight…. You plan to implement performance pay in three months and you don't have a way to test every student for it?
Dr. Tonta: Oh, we do have a way to test them, we're going to use the state sanctioned tests.
Ms. Glass: But, what about the students that don't take those tests yet?
DR TONTA blinks in confusion.
Dr. Tonta: Every student takes the state sanctioned tests, they have to. They can't move to the next grade level if they don't pass.
Ms. Borris: No, not every student takes those tests. The lower grades don't.
DR TONTA looks confused for a moment and then breaks into a smile.
Dr. Tonta: Oh, yes, they don't take it, but, don't worry. We have another test planned for them. The Department of Education is planning to make one.
Mr. Hawk: Planning to make one? You can't make a test that big in three months!
Dr. Head: Don't worry about it. There will be test, now, any more questions?
DR HEAD and DR TONTA smile cheerfully around the room.
The REPORTERS and MS BORRIS look at them like they're crazy.
Dr. Tonta: Well then, I guess we're done now. Thank you for coming!
EVERYONE shakes hands and the REPORTERS and MS BORRIS leave the room.
MS IMPOTE begins packing up the laptop.
Dr. Tonta: That went really well. I think they liked it.
Dr. Head: Oh, I know they did. It's such a wonderful plan.
Dr. Tonta: Yes, it's marvelous. Don't you think so Ms. Impote?
Ms. Impote: Oh, yes, it's wonderful.
DR HEAD and DR TONTA grin at each other as MS IMPOTE rolls her eyes in disgust.
Switch to REPORTERS and MS BORRIS waiting for the elevator.
Ms. Borris: I don't know how I'm going to explain this to the Union.
Mr. Hawk: I don't know how I'm going to put this in an article.
Ms. Glass: Are they idiots? Implementing performance pay with no real way to judge performance?
Mr. Curioso: No, they just aren't thinking. All they can see is the money they're going to get for doing this. The education in this country is going to the dogs.
Ms. Borris: No, Mr. Curioso, that's where you're wrong. It's not the teachers, it's the people above the teachers. They just see test scores and dollar signs. They don't see children and our future.
Mr. Hawk: That's true, but what can you do about it?
Elevator doors open REPORTERS and MS BORRIS step in. Camera stays outside, MS BORRIS faces the door and gets a huge grin.
Ms. Borris: I think we can strike.
MR. CURIOSO lets out a bark of laughter.
Mr. Curioso: That will mess up their test scores.
Doors begin to shut.
Ms. Borris: Yes, yes it will.
EVERYONE in the elevator begins laughing as the doors slam shut.
Switch back to DR TONTA, DR HEAD, and MISS IMPOTE.
Dr. Head: I just got a bad feeling about this performance pay.
Dr. Tonta: Oh, don't worry about it! Everyone's going to love it! It's all so well organized and fair!
Dr. Head: You know, you're right. I don't know why I got worried for a second.
Dr. Tonta: That's the spirit!
MISS IMPOTE is packed up, she grabs the laptop bag and heads towards the door/camera as she gets close she mutters, so only the audience can hear it.
Miss Impote: Idiots.
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