Broward County teachers packed a School Board meeting Tuesday, complete with signs and loud chants, to protest what they see as a lousy attempt by the district to boost pay.
The crowd got raucous even before the School Board convened to hear public speakers at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Security staff told hundreds to wait outside because there was no space for them in the boardroom or overflow room.
“Open the doors! Open the doors!” the teachers shouted.
They brought signs proclaiming, “Are you kidding me,” “It’s April, but you don’t fool us,” and “We deserve better.” One teacher even rang a cowbell while shouting, “Show us the money!”
The issue: It’s already April and the district has yet to reach an agreement with the Broward Teachers Union over salaries for the current school year. They’re also angry that the district has been sending out emails to teachers and placing popups on school websites claiming they’re offering a 9 percent raise, which they find misleading.
The district is actually offering a 2 percent raise for this school year, but only retroactive to January, meaning teachers would receive no raise for the work they did during the fall semester.
About $93 million from a voter-approved referendum becomes available in July, so the district has proposed a 7 percent increase for the 2019-20 school year. However, union members say they haven’t been guaranteed that will be a recurring raise. The money lasts four years and would expire if not renewed by voters in 2022.
The union has proposed a 4 percent increase this year and a 9 percent increase with referendum funds for next school year.
The union also claims teachers would have to pay $160 a month to receive the same health insurance they now receive for free. The district is still offering two health insurance plans with no monthly premiums, but union members claim they are inferior with higher deductibles and co-payments.
“I think that when you came to the negotiating table with this horrible, disrespectful disengaged nonsense, you maybe didn’t understand what it meant,” said Robin Rothman, a science teacher at Bair Middle in Sunrise.
The school district says it’s facing a tight budget year due to inadequate state funding so it’s offering a small increase now and a bigger increase after the referendum money becomes available.
Superintendent Robert Runcie said the district is trying to find money. It has cut 80 administrative positions to try to free up money, he said.