Raises could increase

Teachers’ rate would jump to 2.5 percent

Most Broward County teachers would receive a 2.5 percent raise if the school district accepts a magistrate’s recommendation.

The proposed increase would replace a 1.4 percent raise agreed to in2013 as part of a three-year contract. A 2.5 percent increase would mean about $1,250 more for a teacher making $50,000 a year. If approved, itwould be effective retroactively for the current school year.

“A good school system with properly rewarded teachers is not only good for school-age families but for the business community, the real estate industry, and the community at large,” Special Magistrate Leonard T. Helfand wrote.

Thedistrict has 20 days to respond to the ruling but isn’t required to accept it. School district officials say they are reviewing It..

“The School Board members and the superintendent are as interested as the teachers in seeing this matter brought to closure so that teachers will finally receive their salary increases,” district spokeswoman Tracy Clark said.

Teachers have yet to receive any increase for the 2015-16 school year because the union and district have been at an impasse sinceNovember.

The increasewould apply to all teachers except those with the highest salaries of about $71,000, who would get a one-time bonus of $700.

Themainissue being considered: whether a threeyear contract approved in 2013 could be re-opened to give extra money to teachers.

The district argued there wasn’t additional money for teacher raises. The union’s position was that previous years’ raises cost the district less than expected, and many of the highest paid teachers have retired and have been replacedby teachers making less.

“The special magistrate’s recommendations reaffirm what BTU has been saying for years: the school district needs to make teacher raises a priority, especially with the teacher shortagewe are currently facing,” union President Sharon Glickman said.