Beyond the freeze: Pinellas teachers set sights on a raise

The grim budget picture for Pinellas schools continues to evolve. That initial across-the-board wage cut that fueled so much outrage has morphed into a wage freeze, thanks to a plan that will require employees to pay higher medical premiums. Now union officials tell The Gradebook they are pushing for more.

They contend there's enough money in the budget to give teachers their "step increases" (the routine raises based on years of service) plus a regular raise of 1.5 percent for teachers and all other employees. That’s a long way from where things started in the effort to cut $40-million from the budget.

Jade Moore (left), executive director of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, points to $9-million the district has set aside to comply with the class size amendment. He contends Pinellas can meet the mandate without that money, and that it should go to employees.

District budget officials say otherwise. It's all part of the annual dance known as "collaborative bargaining," but the stakes in this year's crisis atmosphere seem higher. The School Board expects to settle on a budget by June 10.

Meanwhile, we await teacher reaction to the board's tentative decision Thursday to change the middle school day to seven periods, up from the current six periods at most schools. It was a decision based on academics and money, opening more space in the day for electives and saving the district $2.2-million it would otherwise spend on teachers to meet the class size mandate.

But the bottom line is that it increases teacher workloads with no extra pay. It could have been worse. The decision is a compromise from an eight-period day that would have saved the district more money and required teachers to be in front of kids for seven periods.

One other budget note: Administrators and board members are wincing at a proposal to cut the number of middle and high school assistant principals by 27 and send them back to the classroom. Because APs handle discipline, the primary concern is safety.

"It is absolutely the toughest thing we’re bringing forward to you," deputy superintendent Harry Brown said. The board eased the pain a bit by putting three AP positions back into middle schools. They would be assigned to schools with the greatest need.

Comments

Middle school teachers are being thrown to the dogs. Teachers will have more students, less planning, longer hours for students, one less administrator, and absolutely no respect. Our contract is being broken and we are receiving no compensation.

[Milton]

An estimate of 20% of Tampa Bay district employees are "retired" and still working for the school districts (double-dippers or DDs) collecting retirement money and higher-grade salary. Those teachers are preventing lower-grade-pay employees to get raises while helping the budget. Moreover, the state give DDs monthly money for medical care, money DDs should use to pay for their health insurance. Still, these teachers do not talk, but they rather quietly wait for layoffs and other cutting measures to happen instead of them taking the pay-cuts that would place them at a fair level.
Before cutting raises for regular district employees, management should obligate the DDs to pay for their insurance and accept a pay cut proportional to with they get from "retirement". By the way, do you know that DDs are entitled for a second retirement?

[teacher]

Hillsborough middle school teachers already teach 6 out of 7 periods every day... I see 180 kids every day for 46 minutes each period. I have 46 minutes planning time to call parents, respond to emails, prepare lessons, and grade projects. To even think of this being a compromise is outlandish! I love my job- do not complain about the pay- but at some point the children are going to suffer due to the lack of individualized instruction.

[Jared]

Milton-
Years ago we gave up decent raises so the newbies could get more at the bottom of the scale. Bite the hand that fed you, why don't you? I look at some of the 1-2-3 year teachers and think, "Where do they GET these people?" A 10 year teacher with a master's only makes 6,000 more than a first year with a BS. STop whining and be grateful to those who went before you.

[Goose]

Salaries? How about student services, bussing? Now little five-year-olds will be walking up to TWO MILES to school. Amendment One could be responsible for the injuries, kidnappings, even deaths of little children. Florida, do you care about the little ones, or is it just the $240? Greedy, evil Floridians, putting money over your own children. Don't go around wondering when God sends a few Category 5 hurricanes your way.

[Largo Teacher]

Maybe some of the parents of the children who have to walk should drive their kids to school. In fact, parents who chose their choice schools should drive them as well. That's what I had to do when I put my child into a fundamental school. When I chose for my children to attend an out of zone school, I chose to get my child to and from that school. Carpools work very well. If a parent is not able to do this, their close to home school is always available.