MEA needs YOU! Membership in your union is more important than ever! Scan the QR code or click here to join!

1. A VOICE IN YOUR WORKING CONDITIONS
As we collectively bargain our wages, hours and working conditions, we help define the most tangible aspects of our profession for Manatee County teachers and paraprofessionals.

2. ADVOCACY FOR OUR STUDENTS & SCHOOLS
Through student scholarships, community outreach and policy advocacy, MEA members are working together to ensure our students and our neighborhood public schools have the resources they need to thrive.

3. REPRESENTATION WHEN IT'S NEEDED
MEA members are guaranteed representation in matters related to their job. In administrative meetings, and in the event of certification or investigations by outside agencies, membership means support for and protection of due process rights.

4. PROFESSOINAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Members have access to a wealth of professional resources through our local, state and national organizations; we are committed to high-quality instruction at every level of education.

Are you a current MEA member trying to set up eDues?
Please email association@manateeschools.net for instructions. 

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.  

***** 

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.

-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 14^th and Wednesday, August 16^th to continue negotiations for the 2023-2024 teacher and paraprofessional contracts.

On Monday, August 14^th, 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 16^th, 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.

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