Lee schools, union to search for agreement

The Lee County School District and the union representing its support personnel will attempt again today to come to an agreement on pay and benefits for workers that include bus drivers, mechanics and paraprofessionals.

Wednesday, district officials made an offer of a 3 percent across the board raise for the workers organized under the Support Personnel Association of Lee County. That, along with a “step,” the annual raise they receive for another year on the job, and a combination of benefits would mean boosts valued at several thousand dollars for some employees next year.

Under one option on the table, a school bus driver on the fourth step would get a 75 cent an hour raise, which translates to a 5.9 percent salary raise. With benefits, the drivers, who are much in demand at the district, would be given a compensation package valued at approximately $27,817. The drivers work 186 days of the year.

Mechanics, also in short supply, would see 95 cents more hourly if they are on the ninth step, and would see their total compensation package rise by 8.2 percent to $46,092 annually.

Greg Adkins, executive director of human resources and employee relations for the district, said that though some issues still need to be addressed with the union, he is hopeful agreement will come on a contract today. Negotiations begin again at 3 p.m. today.

Before talks began again, SPALC Bob Rushlow said there was no guarantee matters would be resolved today.

The union has concerns that what the district is proposing does not equate to 3 percent raise for those at the top of the pay scale, he said. A person with 12 years of experience would be at the top of the pay scale, with no step above them to be combined with the raise, he said. With competition fierce for mechanics and other workers in the private sector, Rushlow worried the current offer wouldn’t be enough to keep veteran workers from leaving the school district.

“We have 22 positions in maintenance that we’ve have been trying to fill and haven’t,” he said. “The salary package is not competitive.”

When making its offer to support personnel, the district factors in benefits it offers, like fully paid health insurance. That’s not the way it works in the private sector, Rushlow said. Without that consideration, and with only base salary considered the district’s offer of $46,092 to a mechanic drops to $34,190.

Many support workers aren’t even making that, Rushlow said, adding that custodians in the district start at $8.34 an hour.

“We have many employees at poverty level,” he said.

Though he said he would like to see more than 3 percent for support workers, Rushlow said he believes the district is making its offer in good faith.

The ongoing negotiations are a collaborative effort, he said.

“There is one team there and it’s the district and the union working together,” he added.

The Teachers Association of Lee County and the district reached an agreement on a contract for next year last month. Under it, salary for teachers in their first four years would jump to $36,000, according to an agreed-upon pay schedule. Last school year, starting teachers made $30,473.