School Support Personnel Approve Contract

SEBRING - It was a relatively close vote, but the school district's educational support workers approved their employment contract.

"It really represents so little money to people who had so little that we are not surprised that there was a substantial 'no' vote," said Michael Bernier, the chief negotiator for the Highlands County Educational Support Personnel Association.

Almost 200 people attended Sunday afternoon's update and vote on the contract at the Sebring High School Smith Center.

"This is the first time I've ever brought a contract back that almost had 40 percent voting against it," Bernier said. "These things usually pass by 90 percent or more."

The contract likely passed because it was just before the holidays and the district promised to provide the retroactive pay increase before the holidays.

Each step on the salary schedule increases by 2 percent and the top step increases by 2 1/2 percent.

That's the lowest raise in the district, and it's being given to the lowest-paid employees in the district, Bernier added.

There are few full-time employees and a full-time employee at the bottom of the salary schedule would receive a $320 increase for the whole year, Bernier said.

Administrators who received a 3 percent raise on an $80,000 salary got $2,400, he noted.

This is a 12-month contract from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008.

The School Board of Highlands County will vote on the contract at its next meeting, which is Dec. 11.