Local News School board, PEA moving closer to salary agreement
By BRIAN McBRIDE News Chief
BARTOW-- The Polk Education Foundation and the Polk County School Board moved closer to an agreement on Wednesday to set salary increases for teachers.
Both entities met to continue negotiations started in March. The school board has a 5-percent average salary increase based on experience on the table, while the PEA is asking for a 5.5 percent increase.
John Taylor, president of the PEA, is confident that the issue will be resolved at their next meeting set for Sept. 23.
"Normally when it gets to this point, there is some type of compromise," he said.
The school board has proposed to distribute raises from 2- to 7.5-percent based on teaching experience. Based on the plan, a teacher with 15 years experience would receive a 3.5-percent raise, as well as a teacher with 10 years experience. According to Vicki Sizemore, chief spokesman for the PEA, the board's salary proposal for those teachers is ranked 58 and 45, respectively, out of 67 school districts in Florida.
However, new teachers and teachers with five years experience or less would receive a 7.5 -percent increase. Sizemore said those salaries rank nine and 11, respectively, on the list.
"The middle part of the salary schedule is far lower," said Taylor. "We're concerned about that."
The PEA wants better compensation for teachers between the 6-16-percent range and the extra .5-percent increase may be the key.
"That .5 means $500,000 more," Sizemore said.
Bill Londeree, director of employee relations for the PCSB, said the board is investigating the extra .5-percent increase the PEA is asking, but could not determine whether it was feasible or not.
"The .5-percent is on the table and we have to re-look at it," he said. "We're going through the process and we're ready to explore."
Londeree noted that both sides have a good working relationship and said a conclusion will depend on negotiations at the next meeting.
"When we sit down and talk things through, the whole system benefits," he said.