GAINESVILLE - Gainesville School Board members reviewed a proposal for pay bonuses and other incentives during their regular Tuesday night session.

"We want these teachers to know how much we appreciate them," said Dr. Shirley Whitaker, Acting Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.

"They do a wonderful job and they should be rewarded."

"Other companies give bonuses to their workers."

Qualfied teachers would recieve a $200 bonus for the most progress made by their students.

Whitaker said if the Board approves the

"We can't afford to lose a single child."
Kelvin Simmons

incentives it would be the first system wide monetary reward for Gainesville educators.

A fifty dollar savings bond would be awarded each quarter to the teacher with perfect attendance.

Fifty dollar cash awards were proposed for the teacher with the most effective use of PC in her class room, the best web site, for example.

Another fifty dollar reward could go to teachers who learn Spanish.

School Board members said Tuesday night that if there is a school materials leak in the system and they want it plugged.

Finance Officer James Branson
told board members he had recieved reports from some schools that supplies were not available.

"We want to figure out where the problem is,"
said Board member Frank Harben.

"It could be either a communications problem or a bottleneck somewhere, but we need to get it cleared up."

Harben said he had heard the missing material included books and construction materials used in the classroom.

School Superintendent Dr. Steve Ballowe told board members during the meeting that he supports school uniforms but feels it should be the student and parents' choice to wear them.

"Whatever happens here needs to go back to each school and the school improvement council and P.T.A. needs to become involved," said Ballowe.

"They really should make the decision if that is something they want in their community."

Dr. Ballowe said he will recommend that the uniforms should be voluntary.

"I would not want to say every kid must do it," Ballowe said.

"There are some children where it is a family decision, but I really support uniforms myself."

Board members reviewed an African American student initiative during their regular session and were told a plan of action could be implemented over a three year period.

Part of the plan calls for a math literacy coach but Board Member Kelvin Simmons said math scores among minority students are low now and a math coach is needed now.

"I don't think we ought to short cut the kids in the area of math, our scores don't look good," said Simmons.

"These are kids who are going to fall through the cracks and we're going to lose them and we can't afford to lose one single child."

Dr. Shirley Whitaker