Broward County teachers may get salary supplements of between $500 and $12,000 annually over the next four years, the result of a referendum voters approved last year to help boost teacher pay.
The district and the Broward Teachers Union reached a tentative agreement Wednesday. The agreement still must be ratified by teachers and approved by the School Board.
Teachers have gotten a referendum-funded supplement for the past four years due to a tax increase voters approved in 2018. But voters agreed to double that tax in 2022, from $50 per $100,000 in assessed property value to $100, giving the district a bigger pot of money.
Here is how the new proposed supplements compare to last year.
- A teacher with less than one year of experience would get $500, up from zero last year.
- A teacher with one to two years would get $2,000, up from $1,500.
- A teacher with three to five years would get $3,000. Last year, a teacher with three to four years got $1,500 and one with five years got $2,000.
- A teacher with six to seven years of experience would get $5,500, up from $3,500 to $4,500 last year.
- A teacher with eight to nine years would get $6,000, up from $4,500 to $5,000.
- A teacher with 10 years would get $7,500, up from $5,000.
- A teacher with 11 to 14 years would get $10,000, up from $8,500 to $8,750.
- A teacher with 15 or more years of experience would get $12,000, up from $8,750. An exception is the highest-paid veteran teachers (pay steps RF, S, T and U), who would get $10,000.
Right now, teachers make an average of $66,259 in base salary and supplements, not including benefits, according to a district analysis.
“We’ve moved some of the money to some of our least experienced teachers who are suffering significant challenges due to rampant inflation,” said Board member Allen Zeman, who has proposed bringing the average teacher salary up to $80,000 with a total package of $100,000 including benefits.
Zeman said BTU asked for more money for veteran teachers but understood the need to support those struggling to make ends meet on a $50,000 salary.
“I love that we ended up with a good compromise between BTU and the Broward School Board,” Zeman said.
Unlike the distribution of the 2018 referendum, which was negotiated every year, these supplements would be recurring for four years.
Voters would have to renew the referendum in 2026 to continue them after that. Negotiations are still under way for regular salary increases for teachers, as well as supplements for advanced degrees or extra duties, such as coaching or leading clubs.