Referendum

Happy New Year!

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING

It's the new year and attention now focuses on the referendum campaign. Every school marquee in the county had this ‘holiday' message during the break: "Our dollars for our schools. $42 million a year for our kids. School Board Referendum January 29^th." It is a powerful reminder of the important vote coming up in just three weeks. As an organization, PCTA has put considerable resources behind the campaign including the posters in every school, mailing to absentee voters and polling support. In the weeks to come, Association members will be asked to do even more as efforts are expended to get out the vote.

RESOLUTION 2008-01

SUPPORT OF EDUCATION REFERENDUM

WHEREAS, the Citizens of Pinellas County voted in November of 2004 to allow the School Board to levy up to one half mill for “necessary operating expenses including funds to recruit and retain high quality teachers; preserve reading programs and music and art classes; and provide up-to-date textbooks and technology, with oversight of these expenditures by an independent citizens financial oversight committee; and

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.