Debate over whether to significantly increase salaries for teachers and principals in Broward County has been postponed for another week over concerns that the ambitious proposal is rushed.
This was made clear by Allen Zeman, a member of the Board of Education. suggestion Tuesday's meeting voted to increase average total teacher pay to $100,000 by 2025 from the current average of $78,000. This amount includes base salary, medical expenses, and retirement benefits.
Total compensation for principals and assistant principals will increase from an average of about $137,000 to $150,000, Zeman said.
“We need to make sure that our most precious resources are compensated in a way that reflects the respect we have for them in Broward County,” Zeman said. “You can. You should. And we should do it now.”
Fania Diginold is an ESE (Exceptional Student Education) teacher at Coconut Creek High School. At her current salary level, she says, she is losing hope of buying her own home in Broward.
“I stand before you and speak on behalf of my fellow teachers: We are tired,” Desinold told the board. “Please find the money. We need to increase our salaries. Every year, teachers are leaving. They haven't even made it through winter break. They are at a loss.”
According to local real estate agents, the median price for single-family homes in Broward is $585,000, and condos are $270,000.
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While newly appointed Superintendent Peter Licata and other school board members have voiced support for the goal of increasing teacher pay, the proposal does not require the school board to approve a new budget. He warned that it may be too ambitious to undertake in just a few weeks.
“To be able to do that so quickly, with a clean conscience, without destroying anything in the world, and to achieve those numbers…I can't support that idea,” Licata said. “Give me a runway here. Give me a year.”
The proposal comes at a time when school districts could soon face significant declines in enrollment and per-pupil funding. new state law All Florida students will now be able to receive state vouchers to attend private schools.
“No one in this room knows the impact the scholarship program will have on our enrollment,” said Judith Marte, assistant superintendent for finance and operations. “It's very important that we remain nimble. If we had an unexpected and significant drop in enrollment, we would have very difficult decisions to make.”
Several board members said they needed more details about Zeman's plan to fund the raise.
“I think we all feel the same way…We all want to pay our teachers and principals more. We all want to pay our staff more.” Director Daniel Foganholi said. “I think it’s not what you do that matters, but how you do it.”
Zeman said the raises will be funded by rising real estate values, increased state education funding and tax referendum It was approved by county voters in 2022, but he has not released a formal breakdown of the funding plan in writing.
“We haven't gotten any documentation to help us understand what that looks like, so we feel like today is probably not the right time,” said Debbie Hixson, vice chair of the board. Told.
Zeman also advocates cutting costs across the district, particularly contracts with outside contractors, and closing about 40 schools over the next few years.
“It's the right thing to do for Broward County students to reuse schools. And if no one else on this board wants to say that, that's fine. But what the truth is, and the community There's no shame in telling people what they need,” Zeman said.
Board President Lori Alhadeff argued that the proposal was unfair to Licata, who has only been in office for a full week. He said the new superintendent deserves an opportunity to independently evaluate the district's finances and make his own recommendations.
“I think it's a great idea to pay everyone more,” Alhadeff said. “Surely there's a lot of waste happening, services being repeated, services being done that aren't needed. But we have to give [Licata] That opportunity, that runway, allows you to understand that. ”
Zeman wanted the board to vote on the proposal Tuesday and had directed district staff to draft two budget scenarios to present to the board at an Aug. 1 public hearing. This includes a proposed budget for district staff and a path to compensation totaling $100,000. By 2025, pay teachers, principals and assistant principals a total of $150,000.
The board discussed the issue for more than two hours on Tuesday, but ultimately voted 6-2 to postpone further discussion until a special board meeting on Tuesday, July 25.
