January 13, 2022
Tentative Agreements Reached
The bargaining teams of the Manatee Education Association and the District met to discuss para and teacher contracts on Wednesday, January 12, 2022.
After negotiating for several hours, the teams were able to reach tentative agreement on the teacher and para contracts.
Highlights of the Teacher Tentative Agreements are as follows:
- Base salary increases to $47,500 (Grandfathered Schedule)/$47,500 (Performance Schedule) using the funds provided in the state Teacher Salary Increase Allocation
- Teachers on the Grandfathered schedule receive a 4 (four)-level increase; those on the Performance schedule who were rated highly effective receive 4 (four)-level increase and effective receive 3 (three)-level increase
- Master’s Degree supplement increases to $1200
- Longevity for teachers who completed 16 years ($2,100)/25 years ($3,600) in Manatee County last year
- Supplemental/Differential pay will increase across the board by 10%
- Credit for teaching experience will increase from 8 years to 10 years
Highlights for the Paraprofessional Tentative Agreements are as follows:
- 1 (one) step movement on the salary schedule for eligible paraprofessionals (those who worked 99 days or more last year)
- 2% to paraprofessionals at the top of the schedule
- $0.50 per hour increase applied to each step of the salary schedule
- Steps 1-5 on the Aides schedule will be increased to $13.45 per hour
Teachers and Paraprofessionals
All teachers and paraprofessionals who did not receive the $1,000 bonus from the Governor/Legislature will receive a $1,000 retention bonus.
For both contracts all current contract language including health insurance premiums continues until 2022-2023 negotiations.
All salary improvements are retroactive to July 1, 2021.
Next Steps
Salary schedules and other details including information regarding teacher and paraprofessional voting on ratification of the tentative agreements will be coming out soon.
Then, the School Board will place the agreements on their agenda for ratification.
December 2, 2021 - On Wednesday, December 1st, the MEA and management bargaining teams met to continue negotiating for the 2021-2022 contracts for teachers and paraprofessionals. There have still been no agreements reached but significant progress was made towards agreement.
Management responded to MEA’s proposals on salary increases for teachers and paraprofessionals as well as proposals on payroll deductions for benefits, credit for experience on the teacher salary schedule and payment for no sub. Discussions continued about supplements, credit on the para salary schedule and paraprofessional positions that are difficult to fill.
bargaining_120121.pdf
November 18, 2021 - On the evening of November 17, 2021 MEA and management bargaining teams met. There have been no agreements reached at this point. MEA responded to management’s proposals on payroll deductions for benefits and credit for experience on the teacher salary schedule. MEA presented an opening proposal on salary increases for teachers and paraprofessionals. In addition, MEA presented a proposal for payment for when a substitute is not available. Discussions continued about credit on the para salary schedule and paraprofessional positions that are difficult to fill.
The next bargaining session will be held December 1, 2021.
bargaining_111721.pdf
November 2, 2021 - MEA and management bargaining teams met for the first bargaining session of the 2021-2022 school year on the evening of November 1, 2021. The scope of bargaining was discussed in that this is a full book. The District had issues that they wanted explored and are open for negotiations. Issues included a district budget update as reported to the school board, credit for experience on the teacher salary schedule, payroll deductions for benefits and paraprofessional issues related to positions difficult to fill in the para bargaining unit.
MEA requested additional data pertaining to all these issues.
Members of the MEA bargaining team include - Pat Barber (MEA), Linda Bryan-Beachler (Freedom), Kara Carney (Rogers Garden Bullock), Helen King (Bayshore Elementary), Brian Kirchberg (Braden River High), Melanie Newhall (Kinnan), Bruce Proud (Chief Negotiator), Marlyce Stringer (Tillman), Jon Syre (King), and Dawn Walker (MEA).
District bargaining team members include Tim Bargeron (SSC), Dan Evans (SSC), Wendy Mungillo (SSC), Bill Vogel (Chief Negotiator) and Doug Wagner (SSC).
The next bargaining session will be held December 1, 2021.
The minutes will be posted here on the MEA website once approved by both bargaining teams.
bargaining_110121.pdf
