O'Malley Seeks $200,000 Principal Bonuses

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley today will propose paying signing bonuses of $200,000 -- believed to be the largest of their kind in the nation -- to principals hired to lead dozens of Maryland's lowest-performing schools.

The hefty bonuses, designed to lure seasoned educators from across the state and country to jurisdictions including Prince George's County, are included in a package of "new ideas" on education that the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful plans to present this afternoon.

O'Malley will also call for shrinking the state's largest middle and high schools and expanding a program aimed at reducing school suspensions.

Education now dominates debate in the governor's race. In television ads and in appearances, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) is talking about how important education was in his life and about the low performance of some schools in O'Malley's city.

Today, Ehrlich will continue his focus, addressing the State Board of Education on issues related to teachers and principals, shortly before O'Malley holds his news conference.

O'Malley's signing-bonus proposal seems certain to become a lively part of the debate, based on interviews yesterday.

"That is probably the most lucrative plan I've ever heard of," said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "Without question, you're going to be able to recruit good people."

But Tirozzi added that the program could lead to resentment and professional jealousy among other educators in the state if not implemented carefully. Most other jurisdictions that have initiated signing-bonus programs offer no more than $20,000 or so, he said.

Tirozzi's view was echoed by Doris Reed, executive director of the principals union in Prince George's, which is second only to Baltimore in the number of schools that state officials have labeled as "in need of improvement."

"I have a concern that you're labeling the school and the kids in these neighborhoods as so bad that the only way you can get someone to come in is to pay them all this money," Reed said.

A draft of O'Malley's plan, which was obtained yesterday by The Washington Post, argues that principals in low-performing jurisdictions often face additional challenges, including poverty, inexperienced teachers and high staff turnover.

"Half-hearted measures will not work," the draft says. "The research shows that financial incentives can work only if they are large enough to matter."