Manatee Education Association

Welcome

Welcome to manateeea.org!

The Manatee Education Association -- your professional union -- is Manatee County's advocate for teachers and paraprofessionals. For many years we have stood together and spoken for quality education and for serving and protecting your best interests.

Educators are entrusted with the care and nurturing of our county's most precious resource: CHILDREN. Our lives are dedicated to the future of children and to the future of our community, our state and nation.

MEA brings together teachers and paras so that our voices can be heard and respected. As a member of MEA you support the only organization dedicated to representing your interests at the local (School Board), state (Legislature) and national (Congress) levels.

Thank you for your involvement and your choice to stand with your colleagues in Manatee County, Florida and throughout America.

Are you ready to join us? Learn

MEA Has Members Covered

Don’t be fooled by imitators who offer liability coverage only. Last year alone 17 members faced false allegations of child abuse requiring legal representation for criminal investigations (CPS), for defense of certificate (DOE) as well as for district investigations (OPS). In the last decade, there have been 0 members requiring liability coverage.

When it comes to coverage MEA along with its affiliates, FEA, AFT and NEA, has members covered in all areas of job related issues including legal, and it’s all included in the price of your dues.

Coverage includes but is not limited to:

Allegations of child abuse resulting in criminal charges
Ethics charges referred to the Department of Education
Questions of competency reflecting on job performance
Representation in disputes with school level administration
High dollar liability coverage

In addition, members have the benefit of:

An outstanding legal team with over 75 years of aggregate experience and a staff of full time attorneys who deal exclusively with members’ legal issues.
A network of labor lawyers throughout the state
MEA officers and staff to guide members through the process
No limitations on fees, hours or nature of the case

2022-2023 Teacher and Para Millage Supplement

August 4, 2022 - Click on the following link to read the Memorandum of Understanding between the Manatee Education Association and the School District of Manatee County regarding what the referendum supplement will be for the 2022-2023 school year. The referendum supplement payment will begin on the August 26, 2022 paycheck.

mou_referendum_20222023.pdf

2022-2023 Negotiations

July 26, 2022 - MEA and management bargaining teams met for a lengthy bargaining session on July 25, 2022.

Management and MEA made progress toward reaching agreement on paraprofessional compensation. We are continuing to discuss all aspects of teacher compensation and complying with the teacher pay formulas required by the new Florida legislation. In addition, discussion continues regarding sub coverage, supplements, voluntary transfers, pay for curriculum and special projects including staff development, longevity and deductions.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2022.

The minutes will be posted on the MEA website once approved by both bargaining teams.

bargaining_072522.pdf

June 30, 2022 - MEA and management bargaining teams met on June 29, 2022.

MEA provided initial salary proposals on teacher and para compensation and had discussion around the difficulty in structuring teacher pay within the parameters of current Florida statute. In addition, MEA proposed $15/hour minimum pay for paras as well as increasing compensation for paras paid above the minimum. There was discussion around substitute coverage, and management provided information regarding the issue.

The minutes will be posted on the MEA website once approved by both bargaining teams.

bargaining_062922.pdf

June 2, 2022 - MEA and management bargaining teams met for the first bargaining session of the 2022-2023 school year on June 1, 2022.

Management gave their annual budget presentation. In addition, the following issues were discussed: compensation for both teachers and paraprofessionals, substitute coverage and legislative changes and requirements including changes to employer contributions to the FRS investment plan. There were no proposals exchanged.

There was also a report on supplements including supplements in comparable districts, discussion of any duties that are not yet supplemented that may be needed and modifications of existing supplemental amounts.

Members of the MEA bargaining team include - Pat Barber (MEA), Cory Bernaert (Harvey), Kara Carney (Rogers Garden Bullock), Ben Geiger (Bayshore Elementary), Helen King (Bayshore Elementary), Brian Kirchberg (Braden River High), Rob Lyons (JDC), 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 June 29, 2022

The minutes will be posted on the MEA website once approved by both bargaining teams.

bargaining_060122.pdf