School district, employees' union come to terms over new pay scale

After some tense negotiation and just three days before the current contract expired, the Lee County School District and the union representing its support staff came away from the bargaining table with smiles Tuesday night, agreeing on a new pay scale for workers including bus drivers, mechanics and paraprofessionals.

All support personnel are set to get a 3 percent raise, as well as their “step,” an annual increase in pay that roughly reflects their years of experience. Employees on a special track meant to make their salaries more competitive could get more.

Bob Rushlow, president of the Support Personnel Association of Lee County, started negotiations focusing on what he wanted most for employees under the new three-year contract.

“Quality of life,” he said.

Pay that will boost morale, added another SPALC member at the bargaining table. A contract that is fair, another said, a plan that can be ratified by the employees the union represents.

The district’s chief negotiator had some words to consider, as well.

“Manageability,” said Greg Adkins, who also heads up the district’s human resources department. “Affordability.”

Both sides’ goals were met Tuesday night, causing the group to break out in applause when everyone gave the thumbs-up to proposed salaries.

Though some talks remain before the union can ratify the offer, salary and insurance were the big stumbling blocks, according to negotiators.

Adkins said the group will meet once more in July to tie up loose ends.

The district is pleased with the deal, he said.

Where under the current contract workers got a 20-cent hourly raise, this year’s offer from the district would mean a straight salary boost of more than $1.70 an hour for some.

Combined with the steps, that would mean a 6 percent salary boost, before benefits such as retirement or health insurance are even considered, said the district’s budget director, Ami Desamours.

As the two sides negotiated from opposite sides of a horseshoe-shaped table, Adkins said the district had no more funds to bring to the negotiating table, and told employees he was negotiating in good faith.

The offer is the best he has seen in 18 years, Adkins told the group.

“This is what we have to work with — this is it,” he said. “We can never get to nirvana when it comes to salary schedules. We’re just trying to do the best we can.”

The district’s offer translates to upward of $5 million more that will be put toward supporting workers’ salaries next year. With benefits and insurance factored in, the district would increase financial resources put toward SPALC workers by 10.1 percent. Over three years, that will rise to about 18 percent, Rushlow said.

The union president was not entirely satisfied, pointing out that not all workers will see that much of a change from last year’s 20-cent raise.

Custodians would start the district at $8.80 an hour under the proposed salary schedule, 26 cents more than last year.

At the top of the pay scale, those workers get $12.99, and would see a raise of little more than 30 cents an hour, Rushlow said.

The two sides also agreed on changes to insurance similar to those teachers decided on during their contract talks.

Rushlow said that though he has some lingering concerns about health care, he felt the deal struck Tuesday was the best available to the union.

The Teachers Association of Lee County agreed on pay last month and wrapped up other talks Monday night.

TALC president Donna Mutzenard, who also is facilitating SPALC negotiations, said one of the last measures to be agreed on is hoped to bring more teachers into Title I schools.

Four new incentives are now an option for such instructors, she said, including an extra five days each year for professional development.

Teachers who obtain reading endorsements and teach intensive reading will get an extra stipend, she said, and those who take courses to be certified in core academic subject areas will be reimbursed.

The district also will pay the fee for teachers who are tested to be certified to teach in those subject areas.

The money to pay for the incentives will come from Title I and Title II funds, Mutzenard said.