County teachers say yes to contract

When Collier County teachers walk into school next fall, they will get a raise.

A raise that translates to a 6 percent increase over their current salaries.

The Collier County Education Association, which represents about 80 percent of the district's teachers, e-mailed teachers Monday morning to let them know that the union contract had been ratified by a preliminary vote of 1,147 for the contract and 785 against.

Jonathan Tuttle, executive director of the Collier County Education Association, said there are some outstanding ballots that have yet to be counted, but those ballots weren't enough to change the outcome of the vote, which saw 60 percent of the teachers voting for the contract.

Tuttle said the ratification will benefit Collier teachers.

"Teachers were concerned that it was rushed, but we wanted it done before everyone left so that teachers would get their raises before with their first checks," he said.

If the teachers had not ratified the contract, it would have returned to negotiations with the district and a new bargaining team. That would mean that teachers would have had to stay on their current step under the current contract.

A provision in the current teacher contract states, "Effective July 1, 2006, increments shall be paid following the ratification of a successor agreement.

Tuttle said passing the new contract was also important for those teachers who want to transfer. The district and the teachers negotiated a proposal that would allow teachers to transfer within the first three years of employment with the district, something that was not allowed before.

He added that the supplements for teachers who sponsor clubs or coordinate the spelling bee or the science fair will also be indexed to the pay scale. So, when teachers get an increase on their salaries, so do the supplements.

Tuttle said the union had also received good feedback from employees who had received their longevity pay already.

"These folks have not seen 6 percent ever," he said. "They see 3 or 4 percent when everyone else gets the same plus their step."

Last week, bargaining teams from both sides agreed that the teachers would receive a 6 percent increase across the salary schedule for the 2006-07 school year. That means teachers with zero to three years of experience and a bachelor's degree would be paid $38,198, which is an increase over the current $33,226 to $36,036 they are being paid now.

Teachers with 16 to 19 years of experience and a bachelor's degree will be paid $58,812, an increase over the current $54,341 to $55,483 they are being paid now.

Teachers who voted for the contract agreed to make a concession for the 6 percent across the board. Under the proposal, all teachers will remain at their current step, which is measured by years of experience, for the 2006-07 school year. The teachers will move up to the next step in the 2007-08 school year, according to the agreement.

Some teachers will lose more than others. Those who have put in 19 years with the district and are expected to go on longevity pay next year will have to wait until their 21st year of service. Teachers who have four years of service will be paid the same as a first-year teacher.

Teachers who came to a meeting last week were up in arms over losing the step. Many said the raise was not really 6 percent, but really less than 3 percent when you included what a teacher would have made going to the next step.

"There was some concern that we gave them less than 3 percent and their step," said Von Jeffers, president of the CCEA. "What they don't understand is that their step has been taken away for one year, but they will move up after the 2006-07 school year and raises will be built on that 6 percent. In the long run, if you plan to stay in teaching, this will benefit you."

Dena DeFillippo, a teacher and the union's building representative at Osceola Elementary School, voted for the contract.

"I thought it was the best contract they presented us," she said. "I know (the bargaining team) worked hard."

DeFillippo said the consensus at Osceola Elementary School has been positive.

"We are happy we are getting an increase. We think this is the best for everyone. I'm happy I can go home for the summer and know that I am going to come back and have my increase. It's done," she said.

But ratification is not complete. The Collier County School Board will vote to approve the contract at its meeting June 22. Once that is done, School Board Chairwoman Kathleen Curatolo, Jeffers, and Cal Boggess and Michele LaBute, who were the chief spokespeople for the negotiation teams; and Superintendent Ray Baker will have to sign the contract, which will be in effect for three years.