IPS approves Ferebee’s plan to reward principals with bonuses

Leaders who bring about positive change in Indianapolis Public Schools’ most troubled schools are now eligible receive bonuses for that work.

IPS leaders this week unanimously passed Ferebee’s proposal to give recruitment and performance bonuses to principals who improve 11 IPS schools that twice earned F letter grades from the state because of stagnant or declining student performance.

Some of those schools are in the process of recruiting principals, who would be eligible for recruitment bonuses. Other schools will retain their current leaders, who who could earn performance bonuses. IPS will work with individual leaders to determine what would qualify for a bonus.

IPS plans to spend $220,000 on the program, which also would involve hiring new principals for priority schools under 12-month contracts, during the 2014-15 school year.

Ferebee said earlier this month the bonuses will help the district be more competitive at keeping its top talent.

“To be competitive, to recruit, we believe we need to enhance our incentives and provide performance incentives,” Ferebee said.