Frequently Asked Contract Questions

I didn’t get a 6.3% raise – who did?

The percentage increase is developed by taking the dollar increase in the operating budget ($21,016,945) divided by the current salaries in the operating budget ($336,088,450). Average increase is developed by dividing the increase by 7,722 operating units = $2,721. Although 100% of our 8,900 teachers receive the raise, only 85% of them are paid by the referendum. The other 15% are paid by categorical funds, work force development, Title I, etc.

I’m at the top and I never get the average.

No you don’t. The only way to get to the top is to get a higher percentage than the top gets. If that wasn’t the case – there would be a perpetual gap in the schedule. For example, if you started in 1980, you made $11,000; the top M.A. made $19,550. Now let’s assume we gave everyone the same percentage of 6% every year. You would be making $49,438 and the guy at the top would be making $87,865! The people in step always get more percentage because they make less money. It is that simple.

If the referendum produces $3,283, why didn’t I get that as my raise?

The referendum numbers are cumulative. Last year, $2,625 of the $3,372 average increase was referendum. This year, the referendum ‘added’$658 but the ‘raise’ was $2,721. We are combining state money with referendum money in the settlement but reporting it separately. Put another way, without the PCTA paid for and initiated referendum – last year’s raise would have been about $800 – 2% and this year about 5%, with the referendum it was 8.7% and 6.5%.

If we have the referendum, why don’t we make $3,283 more than other counties?

Every county in Florida is different and treated differently under Florida’s funding formula. Right now, Pinellas, as a property rich – pupil poor county, is ‘giving’ money to pupil rich, property poor. Hillsborough, for example, has 80,000 more students than Pinellas yet their property tax produces the same revenue. That’s why they got 4% more in revenue this year than Pinellas.

Is that why we didn’t get a 10% raise like Hillsborough?

Partially. Last year Hillsborough’s average salary increased by $645, 1.6% while Pinellas went up $2,824 – 6.9%. (Average salary is not average increase because it includes all budgeted instructional positions.) When the dust settles, we will be paid, on average, $3,200 more than them despite a nice raise. Incidentally, our referendum
fueled 05-06 raise forced their 06-07 raise.

What will happen to salaries when the referendum expires?

There will be a $40 million dollar "hole" in the budget. If there is plenty of state money there would probably be no raises, if not positions might have to be cut or worse.

What will participation in the STAR performance pay program mean to us?

STAR (Special Teachers Are Recognized) is merit pay lite. Because it requires an outstanding performance evaluation and student performance data and is limited to 25% of the workforce, it fails to meet the standards that the Board and Association have agreed on for performance pay. Unfortunately, it is nearly $7 million of our ‘new’ money and it goes to counties with approved plans if ours fails muster. This is why FEA is litigating against it.

In the meantime, we have agreed to try and fashion a plan that both our members and the Department of Education will accept. This is no small task. First, we have to figure out learning gains for all teachers and administrators. Where does the social worker who serves three schools fit in? How can we get ‘outstanding’ evaluations when we have told teachers its fine to be satisfactory? It is a stupid plan cobbled together by non-educators in the last hours of the legislative session. While we will give it our best shot, it will be a Herculean task. Stay tuned.

Will National Board money be affected?

No.

Why did you only deal with psychologist and speech and not others who can’t get National Board money?

They were identified as positions with shortages who could ‘fund’ the supplement through longer hours. Our program will be voluntary and our goal would be to open it to any specialty that has national certification and who can help fund the supplement through additional work. This is a stop-gap measure until we can convince the legislature to allow all educators to participate in National Board recognition funds.

OTHER QUESTIONS FROM SATURDAY’S F.R. SCHOOL

When will we receive Teacher Lead money?

Teacher Lead was increased to $250 (approximately) this year. It should be paid about the same time as last year but we will have the specific date in the next ACTION.

The I Pledge literature says Florida ranks 49th in per capita school spending. Who is in last place?

In 02-03, Florida ranked 51st in total education spending per capita. Arizona and Tennessee were 50 and 49. We guess it is one of them. (Per capita is a fun way to get at tax burden. Florida has tourists and seniors. Arizona – old people. Tennessee doesn’t spend a lot of money. This number tells you what residents spend. A better measure is percentage of wealth spent. There we are still in the 40s!)

Please get administrators out of our rooms and cut down on meetings!

To his credit, Dr. Wilcox has directed administrators to cut back on walk-throughs, fidelity checks and other interruptions. Meetings are controlled by the contract and you need to start with the site administrator to implement the meeting reduction language of the agreement. Call us for help.

Is A+ still funded and when will we get the money?

Yes it is and the allocation will be coming out soon. It is still $100 per student. We sincerely hope this is the last year for this divisive program. Bank it, if you can but don’t hurt one another.

Can retirees get the money?

Yes, but it must be allocated (agreed to) by November 1.