If National Board Certified teachers are a good thing, it may seem odd that the Fort Mill School Board decided to discontinue bonuses for certified teachers.

But school officials say the state's new education funding formula, which replaced property taxes with an increase in the state sales tax, is to blame for cutting a program that paid teachers an annual $3,000 bonus for achieving certification. It's a rigorous process and this year, the district has 140 teachers who successfully completed it. The cut went into effect Monday, May 6, and excludes any teacher not already certified or pursuing the certification from receiving the bonuses. Certified teachers will continue to receive the bonus until their certification expires.

"The National Board was a crucible, it was the most intense professional experience I've ever had," Chris Revels said.

Revels teaches English language arts at Fort Mill High School. He is Board Certified and holds a master's degree. He's been teaching for six years and has another 30 hours of course work beyond that. Of all the career development programs he's used, Revels said the National Board Certification is the best.

"It forces you to step up what you do. I refined and retooled the things I do," he said. "Undoubtedly it has made me a better teacher."

Connie Grant, band director at Fort Mill Middle School, agrees.

"Some people get it in their first year, but it's designed to be a three-year process. It's designed to really dissect your teaching," Grant said. "The money is great, but honestly, what you learn from it is better."

Grant's husband is also a Board Certified teacher. Because the certification process is so detailed - teachers make videos of their lessons and pour over them looking for the strengths and weaknesses before sitting for extensive written exams - Grant got to see how completely her methods differed from his.

When the cut was announced, Superintendent Keith Callicutt said it was a reflection of the budget, not the program. He also said the district's top priority was maintaining its student/teacher ratio.

Teachers across South Carolina still receive a $7,500 annual stipend from the state for getting certified, and a state program called CERRA pays the $2,300 cost of the National Board Certification program. Teachers only have to reimburse CERRA if they don't complete the certification within three years.

But according to a certified teacher who asked to remain anonymous, "I don't think anyone would do it without the bonuses. You have to be able to look at your spouse, your child, yourself, and say 'will me doing this make it easier for my girl to go to college? Will this make it easier to pay the mortgage?'"

Chuck Walker, a certified teacher who teaches English and journalism at Nation Ford High School, supports the program, but said low student-to-teacher ratio should be a priority. He also acknowledged the financial impact of losing the bonus at a time when the cost of living continues to rise.

"We try very hard to spend wisely," he wrote in an e-mail. "In addition, I have tried to follow what the Bible teaches about careers: 'Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23-24).'"