District Leaders Reiterate a 4% Salary Increase and a $1,250 Bonus for All Teachers
District leaders resumed bargaining today with the Classroom Teachers Association (CTA) and restated the school board’s offer from last week. The district proposal contains the highest salary increase and the lowest average cost of insurance coverage among all school districts in the Central Florida region. The offer includes compensation and benefits for the 2019-20 school year as well as several items brought forward by the CTA that impact working conditions.
Salary & Wages
- The offer includes a salary increase of $2,025 for teachers rated as Highly Effective and an increase of $1,625 for teachers rated as Effective. This increase represents an average 4% increase in annual salary for all teachers.
- The school board added $11.5 million from the unassigned reserve fund to increase the one-time bonus from $500 to $1,250 for all teachers.
Benefits
The district reviewed and compared the proposed OCPS 2019-20 Medical Plans with other area districts. All proposed plans are subject to ratification.
Working Conditions
The district agreed to accept the following changes in working conditions proposed by the CTA:
- Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, an additional paid planning day would be added to preplanning, up from five days to six days, with scheduled activities restricted to 2½ days for the school/district and providing teachers with 3½ days to prepare and plan in their classrooms
- Would, by Letter of Understanding, reach agreement regarding Appeals Committee Decision Tiebreaker Process
- Would reduce work year for school psychologists from 258 days to 228 days
- Requires comments for any ratings below “applying” on the instructional evaluation
- Defines parameters for the use of the CTA bulletin board
- Provides replacement badges for those damaged as a result of normal wear and tear
- Includes the CTA President/designee at Great Beginnings for new teachers
If this offer is accepted by the CTA, all 14,000 teachers will have the opportunity to vote on the increases and changes. Teachers do not have to be a member of the CTA to vote.