School district, teachers agree to tentative pay pact
The agreement would give teachers an average 2.7 percent raise, with health care costs rising dramatically.
By MONIQUE FIELDS
Published May 13, 2004
The Pinellas County School Board reached an agreement with the teachers union this week on raises for employees.
The proposed agreement would give an average 2.7 percent raise to teachers, 1.9 percent raise to administrators and technical employees, and 3 percent raise to everyone else.
While the agreement must be ratified by teachers and approved by the School Board, it was viewed as a major step. Besides a pay raise, the plan credits teachers for all of their teaching experience as of Dec. 1, putting new hires and current employees on an equal footing.
"I believe we have done the best that we can with what we have," School Board Chairwoman Jane Gallucci said.
The agreement calls for higher health insurance premiums. Union representatives noted that 2,000 employees don't participate in the school district's health plan. Jade Moore, executive director of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, said the pay raise means any employee making at least $21,000 annually can offset the increased insurance premiums.
Coverage for a single person would increase from $9 to $29 per pay period, or 222 percent. Those with family coverage, who now pay $92 per pay period, would see their payments rise to $147 per pay period, or by about 60 percent.
Union representatives suggested the School Board foot less of the bill for health care, shifting the cost to employees. Instead of the board absorbing an $11.2-million increase in premiums, it will pay $3.3-million. That allowed for modest raises for teachers, administrators and other School Board employees. But it could be the last raise employees see for up to three years, according to projections.
Barring any increase in revenue, budget cuts or a referendum, chief business officer Lanse Johansen repeatedly warned that it would likely be a while before employees see raises again.
Even more pressing, the School Board's contingency fund is expected to dip to just $600,000 in 2004-05 before moving above the $1-million mark in 2005-06.
