- April 25, 2024
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Wayne Grant
News Editor
The School Board and the teacher’s union have finally hashed out contract terms after weeks of contentious debate. The teachers are scheduled to vote on the contract on May 11, and then the school board will vote at their regular meeting on May 12.
The agreement will be retroactive to last July, because it’s for the 2014/2015 year. In October, the two sides will begin negotiations for the 2015/2016 year.
“We’re always negotiating the current year,” said School Board Chairwoman Linda Costello. She’s glad to have the current contract almost resolved.
“It’s certainly a win-win for the whole district,” she said. “I’m glad we were able to give the teachers a raise. They are certainly deserving. We gave them a respectable raise last year.”
In other school related news, Costello said the board has formed a citizens committee to help come up with a mission statement, vision statement and slogan to help develop a strategic plan for the school system. The group will meet with each department.
“Every department is aligned with the strategic plan,” Costello said.
She said interim superintendent Tom Russell, who was appointed after Dr. Margaret Smith resigned earlier this year, has done an amazing job and has been given a one-year contract.
She said the board is not currently seeking a new superintendent and will likely not resume the search until a strategic plan is in place.
Features of the contract include:
—Beginning teacher salaries rose from $36,000 to $37,000.
—All teachers get an average of 2.78% raise, retroactive to July 1, 2014. It will range from a minimum of $1000 to $3,194 for classroom teachers with a bachelor’s degree.
—The raises will cost the district $6.2 million.
—Teachers will pay toward dental, with the amount depending on the plan.
—Only teachers who see more than 180 students per day will get a $1,500 supplement.
—The teachers will pay $20 per month for insurance.
Some exams suspended
Tom Russell, superintendent of Volusia County Schools, notified teachers April 30 that the school system has decreased the number of end-of-course exams required and added flexibility. School Board Chairwoman Linda Costello said the state legislature has recently provided more freedom on exams.
“We’re over-testing our students,” she said.
Elementary special area teachers (art, music and physical education) are no longer required to administer EOCs, according to a press release. Elementary core teachers will continue to administer fourth quarter exams in English/language arts, math and science, as these are considered part of progress monitoring.
The student progression policy requires that secondary teachers administer final exams in all courses, but teachers may use the district EOC exam or their own test.
Students are still required to participate in the state EOC exams, including Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Biology, Civics, Geometry and U.S. History. The state EOCs serve as the final exam.
“I am confident that the decrease in testing and increase in flexibility will meet the interests of our students and the professional needs of our teachers,” Russell said.
