Notice
of
Teacher and Paraprofessional Ratification Voting
on
Tentative Agreements 2022-2023
Voting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 25, 2023
and will end at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023.
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The ratification votes will take place by electronic ballot.
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Voting instructions will be sent by email to each member of the teacher and paraprofessional bargaining units. The tentative agreements will be posted at your school and are below.
If you have any questions, please contact MEA at 747-5091 or via email at association@manateeschools.net.
Tentative Agreements Reached
September 8, 2023 - The bargaining teams of the Manatee Education Association and the School District of Manatee County met to negotiate paraprofessional and teacher contracts on Tuesday, September 6, and Wednesday, September 7, 2023.
After negotiating for many hours, the teams were able to reach tentative agreements on the teacher and paraprofessional contracts.
The highlights are below. Salary schedules, and other details including information regarding teacher and paraprofessional voting on ratification of the tentative agreements will be coming out soon.
Highlights of the Teacher Tentative Agreements are as follows:
-Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)* of $624 applied to every level of the salary schedules (COLA as defined by Florida Statutes 1012.22)
-Teachers on the Grandfathered schedule receive a 4 (four)-level increase; those on the Performance schedule who were rated highly effective receive a 5 (five)-level increase and effective receive 4(four)-level increase
-Longevity maintained but contract language changed to reflect retention
-Supplemental/Differential pay will increase across the board by 5% plus supplements added (all information will be included with ratification documents)
-Master’s Supplement increases by $500 to $2,000
Highlights of the Paraprofessional Tentative Agreements are as follows:
-1 (One) step movement on the salary schedule for eligible paraprofessionals (those who worked 99 days or more last year)
-2% to paraprofessionals at the top of the schedule
-$.60 per hour increase applied to each step of the salary schedule for all paraprofessionals
Teachers and Paraprofessionals
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the referendum supplement (the millage) for the 2023-2024 school year was signed. The referendum supplement for paras will be to $2,862 (an increase of $504), and for teachers the referendum supplement will be $8,362 (an increase of $1,771).
Teacher and paraprofessionals who worked in bargaining unit positions on March 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023 will receive a $1,000 bonus paid from the ESSR grant.
Beginning in January 2024, we will experience the first premium increase since 2016. This increase ranges from an annual total of $96 (Bronze employee only) to $2,472 (Gold for employee spouse and children). The premiums will be divided over 22 checks in the calendar year (details will be provided prior to ratification). An open enrollment will take place in October of 2023 prior to implementation of the premium increase.
For both contracts all current contract language including health insurance plan benefits continues until 2023-2024 negotiations.
All salary improvements are retroactive to July 1, 2023.
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.
Many thanks to the MEA and District bargaining teams for their hard work in reaching these tentative agreements on behalf of teachers and paraprofessionals.
Dr. Jason Wysong, Superintendent
Pat Barber, MEA President
August 17, 2023 - The MEA bargaining team met with management’s team on Monday, August 14th and Wednesday, August 16th to continue negotiations for the 2023-2024 teacher and paraprofessional contracts.
On Monday, August 14th, MEA offered a proposal that included a four level increase for those on the grandfathered salary schedule, 5 levels for teachers rated highly effective and 4 levels for those rated effective on the performance pay schedule for those who are eligible, an increase at each level of all salary schedules, an increase to the masters degree supplement, an increase in the supplement schedule for teachers and longevity supplements. The proposal for paraprofessionals included step for those eligible as well as a $1.00 per hour added to each step.
When the two teams met on Wednesday, August 16th, management’s team provided a counter proposal. Management’s proposal included a a four level increase for those on the grandfathered salary schedule, 5 levels for teachers rated highly effective and 4 levels for those rated effective on the performance pay schedule, an increase to the masters degree supplement, a cost of living adjustment and an increase in the supplement schedule for teachers. Discussion on longevity is pending. The proposal for paraprofessionals included step for those eligible as well as a $0.25 per hour added to each step.
There was also discussion about solvency and reserves in the health insurance fund as well as further discussions in a future bargaining meeting about a recommendation from the health insurance committee regarding premiums and plan design.
MEA and management signed off on the referendum supplements for the 2023-2024 school year.
The referendum supplements are as follows:
Teachers: $8362.00, an increase of $1771
Paraprofessionals: $2862.00, an increase of $504
Referendum supplement payments will begin with the August 25, 2023 check.
The minutes will be posted on the MEA website once approved by both MEA and management.
The next bargaining session is Monday, August 28, 2023.
August 1, 2023 - MEA and management bargaining teams met for the first bargaining session of the 2023-2024 school year today, August 1, 2023. It was an organizational meeting. Management gave their annual budget presentation, and the teams scheduled future bargaining dates. There were no proposals exchanged.
Members of the MEA bargaining team include - Pat Barber (MEA), Cory Bernaert (Harvey), Ben Geiger (King), Helen King (Bayshore Elementary), Brian Kirchberg (Braden River High), Rob Lyons (JDC), Melanie Newhall (Blackburn), Bruce Proud (Chief Negotiator), Marlyce Stringer (Tillman), Jon Syre (King), and Dawn Walker (MEA).
Members of the District bargaining team include Richard Bailey (SSC), Willie Clark (SSC), Silvana Ianinska (SSC), Gina Malinak (SSC), Joseph Ranaldi (SSC), Rachel Sellers (SSC) and Bill Vogel (Chief Negotiator).
Future bargaining sessions are scheduled for August 14, August 16 and August 28, 2023.
