Teachers offered $1,000 pay increase

They would also get an extra $20 per month toward their health insurance premiums. The union has yet to make a counteroffer.

INVERNESS - During contract negotiations Tuesday, the School District offered Citrus County's 1,119 teachers pay raises of $1,000 across the board and an increased contribution to the cost of their health insurance premiums.

The Citrus County Education Association, which bargains for teachers, did not have an immediate counteroffer. Instead, it sought additional information about how much money the district sets aside but never spends on health insurance premium costs because some teachers don't take the insurance.

Tuesday's negotiations were the first time school administrators announced the total package of monies that will be made available to employees this year for pay raises and increased benefits. For all employee groups, including the three groups represented by unions, the district has set aside $2,851,943 for pay raises and benefits, finance director Sam Hurst said.

The teachers' portion of that amount was $1,119,000 just for pay raises. Hurst said this year the administration team will not be dealing with totals including benefits. Last year adding benefit costs into totals available for raises caused some problems during negotiations.

The administration's offer of $1,000 across-the-board raises at each level of the salary scale would put the district's teacher starting salary at $28,600. Employees who have not yet reached the top of the salary scale already received their step raise for another year of increased experience at the beginning of the school year.

Teachers were also offered an additional $20 per month toward the health insurance premiums, bringing the total of the district's monthly contribution to $150.

After a private discussion of the offer, teachers asked the district to gather some information before the union would provide a counteroffer. Deborah Platt, chief negotiator for the union, asked administrators whether the district sets money aside assuming every employee will take the health insurance.

She also asked for the amount from that total that goes unspent.

Also Tuesday, chief administration negotiator Murphy again offered a $1,000 payment to each of the five teachers who participated in last year's Performance Pay Plan; all were unable to make the cutoff grade to earn a 5 percent pay bonus. No teacher or administrator who participated in the plan this year was able to earn a bonus.

The union had previously sought the $1,000 for the teachers, as well, but each side had a different justification for the payment.

Murphy again insisted that the stipend would be paid because the teachers helped the Performance Pay Plan committee make the plan better for next year. The union wants the money to be paid for the work the teachers did last year to assemble portfolios since there were various problems with that process.

That was the sticking point again Tuesday. Murphy said he did not believe the teachers would have to do too much to meet the criteria to help the committee. They could meet with the group, submit ideas in writing or even just hand over their portfolios with suggestions tacked on.

"We're not asking them to jump through any additional hoops," Murphy said.

Sandra Armstrong, the union's executive director, asked if teachers who didn't offer their suggestions would still get the $1,000.

"No," Murphy responded.

"Then you're asking them to do something in addition and our position is the same," Armstrong said.

She also told Murphy that her team did not want to discuss the issue again at the bargaining table.

The next negotiation session is scheduled for Nov. 4.

- Barbara Behrendt can be reached at 564-3621 or behrendt@sptimes.com

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright