Foss supports teacher bonuses, but not long-term plan

FARGO — A candidate for North Dakota superintendent of public instruction says she supports giving teachers bonuses, but argues a new proposal from her opponent should not become a long-term substitute for raising salaries. Tracy Foss, who is running against current Superintendent Levi Bachmeier, discussed the proposal Wednesday, October 7, in Fargo. Bachmeier and Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, are proposing using 10% of annual distributions from the Common Schools Trust Fund to provide bonuses to returning teachers. Levi Bachmeier. Contributed Foss said she supports bonuses for public school teachers during the next biennium, while also calling for salary increases during the upcoming legislative session. "If there is money for bonuses, there is money for raises, and unfortunately, the current bill is just a band-aid to the teacher retention and recruitment problem, and not a solution," Foss said. Foss argued pay is only one part of North Dakota's te