BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Broward County Public Schools and the Broward Teachers Union announced three tentative contract agreements on Tuesday.
The agreements benefit three employee groups that are represented by the union, including educational professionals, such as teachers, media specialists, social workers and school counselors; education support professionals, such as classroom assistants, teacher assistants and program assistants; and technical support professionals, which positions vary across the school district.
All three agreements are retroactive to the start of the 2017/18 school year.
"We would like to thank all of our employees for their patience and support during this process," BCPS superintendent Robert Runcie said in a news release. "Our School Board and District are committed to investing in our dedicated employees to ensure our students receive a high-quality education with the support and resources necessary to reach their highest potential."
One of the contracts gives teachers salary increases, which vary depending on the applicable teacher salary schedule.
Teachers on the grandfathered salary schedule will receive salary increases ranging from 2.6 percent to 3.5 percent and those who have been employed by the district for at least 15 years will receive a one-time payment of $300, with the exception of teachers on levels S, T and U.
Teachers on levels T and U will receive a one-time $1,000 bonus payment.
Meanwhile, education support professionals will receive raises ranging from 2 percent to 2.57 percent based on step placement.
Technical support professionals will all receive a 2.2 percent salary increase.
"BTU is very pleased to have come to an agreement with the District," BTU president Anna Fusco said in a news release. "This was a tough negotiation, but we feel we got the best deal based on what the Legislature allocated."
District officials said they will work to provide the salary increases as soon as possible after successful ratification by each employee group and School Board approval.