Brevard Public Schools and the Brevard Federation of Teachers union came to a tentative contract agreement Friday that includes an average of a 4.2% raise for teachers.
In an email to Talk of Titusville, Anthony Colucci, President of Brevard Federation of Teachers, said, “We are pleased to announce that after a long fight at the bargaining table, we’ve reached a deal that we will bring to the unit to vote whether or not to ratify.
The tentative agreement raises the minimum base starting teacher salary to $48,725 and includes several types of payments for Brevard Public School teachers. They include:
– Highly Effective pay for performance teachers will get $1,400
– Effective or Grandfathered teachers will get $1,050
– Teachers with BPS from six to 13 years will earn an additional $850
– Teachers with BPS 14 years or longer will earn an additional $1,250
– Lead Mentor teachers and teachers who mentor two or more new teachers will see their supplement increase to $1,000 (this year only)
– Teachers who mentor one new teacher will see their supplement increase to $500 (this year only
Colucci said, “The 20 state statutes surrounding teacher pay made it especially difficult, so our team worked from a position of trying to ensure the best deal for all.”
“While inflation rages, we understand that no raise will seem satisfactory; however, outside of the Governor’s effort to raise the minimum salary, the deal we reached today is the largest recurring raise we’ve seen in 6 years. It also includes substantial bonuses.” said Colucci
Colucci said, “Teaching has been tremendously difficult over the past few years as evidenced by the huge teacher shortage. This package is a big step in helping with recruitment and retention issues.”
Earlier this week, BPS and BFT agreed to recruitment and retention bonuses for teachers at priority schools. Teachers at Tier 2 schools can earn up to $2,000 and teachers at Tier 3 schools can earn up to $3,000. The district and the union also agreed to a $5,000 recruitment and retention bonus for teachers at Gardendale Separate Day School. Both sides also agreed on health insurance that will include $300 being given to all eligible employees in a Flexible Spending Account.
During earlier contract talks the district agreed to the following:
-$3,400 to $4,400 in one-time premium pay for teachers (Already Ratified)
-10 days paid parental leave
-$45 for teachers to cover a class during their planning time
-$1,200 FRS eligible supplement for teachers on the pay for performance salary schedule at the start of their 11th year (previously began in 12th year)
-$2,500 supplement for ESE support specialists
Both sides also agreed on language on compensatory time. This is only a tentative agreement, BFT members must ratify the agreement. If that happens, the School Board would need to approve the agreement.
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