Months later, many Florida teachers still wait for raises
Jeffrey S. Solochek, Tampa Bay Times
Last spring, Florida lawmakers approved $500 million to put into teacher pay instead of bonuses. They aimed to boost the starting salary for educators to $47,500. But their plan didn’t include much money for teachers who aren’t in classrooms, such as reading coaches and guidance counselors, or for more veteran instructors who already earn more than the base. That led to some contentious negotiations over the money. Read on for the latest on this and other Florida education news.
Several school districts still haven’t concluded collective bargaining to get the raises to their teachers. Education commissioner Richard Corcoran and some State Board of Education members blamed “union bosses,” whom they called “irrational,” the News Service of Florida reports. ‣ The Palm Beach County School Board approved its pay plan this week, WPTV reports. ‣ The Volusia County School Board approved a deal on Tuesday to boost base teacher pay to $44,335, the Ormond Beach Observer reports. ‣ Pasco County teachers arrived at a salary agreement this week.