PCTA REACHES AGREEMENT ON NEW CONTRACT!

PCTA negotiators reached a tentative agreement with the District this week on all contract provisions except salary (2008-2011) and insurance (2009-2011). We are continuing our negotiations on salary and insurance and any agreements will be presented for a separate ratification at a later date.

PCTA President Kim Black said “PCTA’s first priority is to avoid layoffs. We have been successful so far with that goal, making us one of the few school districts in Florida to avert layoffs. Next, PCTA is firmly committed to preventing pay cuts, and we will continue that battle. But this contract agreement will guarantee our working conditions are protected as we move forward.”

Click here for a summary of the proposed contract changes. (PDF)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONTRACT SETTLEMENT

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BUDGET / We obtained re-opener language (VI.D) that will require the Board to jointly monitor the budget with us, and to re-open salary, benefits, and work load negotiations as soon as the funding situation improves.

TEACHER RIGHTS PRESERVED / Our contract-language priority is to preserve teacher rights to the maximum extent possible. We would not allow the critical circumstances around our state’s financial situation to decimate our existing contract language nor prevent us from strengthening other areas.

EARLY RELEASE DAY EVERY WEDNESDAY / PCTA added an Early Release Day every Wednesday at all schools, to provide an extra hour for teacher planning that is to be “uninterrupted, unscheduled and utilized at the discretion of the teacher.” (XXVII.D)

DAILY PLANNING TIME MAINTAINED / PCTA defended and maintained required daily planning time for every teacher. (XXVII)

TEACHER INPUT ON SCHEDULING / We avoided imposition of a default secondary schedule, and instead require that principals work with teachers in each school to create schedules that work for them, subject to a 7-class schedule for students. The schedule must provide a daily planning period, and…

LIMIT ON PREPS / the secondary schedule must provide “no more than 2 separate academic preparations or distinctly different lesson plans per day without agreement of the teacher.”(XXXIX. F)

PCTA SAYS NO TO THE MANDATORY “300 MINUTES” / PCTA defeated district efforts to write a 300-minute requirement into the contract for every teacher.

SICK LEAVE IMPROVED / PCTA added provisions for teachers to share sick leave days with family members who are also school employees. (VIII.A)

IMPROVED PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATION / PCTA improved protection of teachers from illegal discrimination (XI)

Contract Ratification will take place on Wednesday, May 20.