Seminole teacher negotiations set

Negotiators for the Seminole Education Association and the School Board are heading back to the bargaining table Monday to talk about teacher pay.

"We will stay as long as we have to to get a contract," said Gay Parker, SEA president.

The session starts at noon at the school district office, so it sounds like it could be order out pizza for supper.

Negotiations broke down earlier this month after the School Board said it wanted to put off salary talks until November, when it might have a better picture of its finances. The all-important statewide student count that determines how much money the district gets from the state is next month.

But the union said no dice. Teachers said they have been put off on salary talks since spring and want to move forward.

Parker said there are signs the School Board is willing to talk dollars now.

The board was locked in a closed door executive session all Tuesday afternoon to talk teacher negotiation strategy, and even continued into the night after a break for the regular School Board meeting.

Teachers are upset because there was no pay raise last year. As a result, a second year teacher made the same as a first year teacher -$36,000 a year. This year first, second and third year teachers all are getting that pay. Carry this on for a few more years and there would be one flat - and very low - salary for all.

The union says the School Board has the money in its budget to cover the 3 percent pay raise it has requested. That raise for teachers is estimated to cost about $7.3 million.

School district officials agree there is extra money tucked away, but say it may be needed to cover whatever unexpected and costly event occurs next. Recent years have brought repeated cuts in funding from the state, as well as expensive hurrricane damage to buildings, not to mention rising electric, fuel and insurance costs.

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