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Schools

School staffers to receive pay hikes

Teachers and instructional employees' compensation will rise by an average of 7 percent. Other personnel, by 8.7 percent.

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published July 29, 2005

Pasco County school employees will receive a boost in pay this year. And while it's not exactly a Cadillac raise, it might feel like one compared with the cost-conscious Ford Escort that passed muster in recent years.

Educators and union officials closed contract negotiations in the wee hours Thursday. Both sides touted the 7,325-employee pay raise package as a respectable plan, thanks largely to greater freedom provided through increased legislative funding.

Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said she was delighted with the outcome.

"We have a wonderful staff, and it's a great thing that we were able to go ahead and provide raises, substantial raises, for the wonderful talent and skills that we have in our schools."

The district's teachers and instructional employees will receive an average increase of 7 percent in compensation, which includes salary and health insurance premiums paid by the district. School related personnel such as bus drivers and aides will see an overall 8.7 percent raise in the total compensation package.

Highlights of the total $13-million package include:

Raising the starting teaching salary from $31,550 to $33,000, for those with bachelor's degrees. The $1,450 increase is, employee relations director Terry Rhum said, "the best I can recall as having had in a long time." The top instructional salary increases from $49,500 to $50,900.

Increasing compensation for advanced degrees for teachers by $100 to $150, depending on the level of advanced education.

Raising academic and coaching supplements by 5 percent across the board.

Step increases, small raises awarded based on experience or educational degrees, will average 2.1 percent for noninstructional staff and 1.5 percent for instructional employees.

Additionally, the district agreed to pick up the tab for a newly legislated fingerprinting requirement for all employees. The expense is expected to cost the district $100,000 the first year, administrators said.

Union president Lynne Webb said she thought the bargaining process was a success. "I'm pleased with the settlement," she said. "Certainly it's better than last year."

[Last modified July 29, 2005, 00:51:17]