The state’s public education establishment has been following legislation afoot this session to study the complex and daunting challenge of luring more teachers to Colorado’s rural climes. A lot of hopes are riding on the bipartisan House Bill 1003, which now has passed both chambers of the General Assembly. The bill aims to earnestly analyze the teacher recruitment and retention woes vexing many smaller school districts across the state — especially in rural communities — in hopes of someday yielding a solution.

Meanwhile, a small school district in neighboring Utah is trying an end-run: cold, hard cash. From Salt Lake City’s Deseret News, via the Associated Press:

A school district in southeastern Utah is in the middle of a test program to see if offering salaries of up to $80,000 can persuade teachers to stay at an elementary school near the Utah-Colorado border.

Teacher turnover is a major problem at Montezuma Creek Elementary School due to unusual working conditions, the Deseret News reported…Sunday.

The school, near Four Corners, is remote and in an area that struggles with extreme poverty, high rates of absenteeism, homelessness, substance abuse and frequent turnover of teachers.

The test program started three years ago to pay significantly higher salaries to effective veteran educators selected as lead teachers at the school.

Is it working?

Since the pilot started three years ago, all but one lead teacher has remained at the school. Turnover has also been reduced, but more importantly, student achievement has improved.

Food for thought? Now, where to find the money…