TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Teachers Approve SalaryContract

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: November 6, 2007

SEBRING — Teachers overwhelmingly approved their employment contract Friday, which represents about a 9 to 11 percent increase in salary and benefits over an 18-month period starting Dec. 1.

Also, the number of pay steps have been reduced for the second consecutive year, which helps teachers move up the pay ladder faster, said chief negotiator and union president Steve Picklesimer.
Two years ago there were 19 steps. Last year two steps were eliminated. This year's agreement cut out four more steps resulting in a total of 13 steps.

The 18-month contract roughly represents a 3 - 4 percent increase in salary and benefits this year and a 6 - 7 percent increase in salary and benefits next year, Picklesimer said Monday.
"We got a 9 percent [increase] package if we had figured it out for a 12-month calendar year, but, where we are fixed for 18 months, you could look at it as the lion's share is coming to us next year."
Teachers will receive their new salary and move to the next pay step starting with the first paycheck in December, he said.

Teachers who voted Friday gave the contract their O.K. with 93 percent (732) voting "yes" and only 7 percent (54) voting "no." A total of 786 votes were cast and 15 percent of the teachers did not vote.
Teachers unanimously approved the contract at Avon and Lake Country elementary schools and Lake Placid Middle School. Three schools registered only one "no" vote – Lake Placid and Sun 'N Lake elementary schools and Lake Placid High School.

The school board will vote on the contract Tuesday.
Also, a federal mediator is scheduled to help with negotiations Friday between the school district and the support personnel union.

The district and union decided to go to mediation after one day of negotiations, on Oct. 17, failed to produce a tentative agreement on salaries.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT