PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Palm Beach County public school teachers will soon get a pay raise.
The Palm Beach County School Board on Wednesday approved on a tentative agreement with the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association that will give all district teachers, including permanent substitutes, up to a 4% raise, depending on their effectiveness rating.
In addition, teachers who work in exceptional student education (ESE), including speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, as well as teachers who work with students with autism or other intellectual disabilities, will receive a $1,250 supplement per school year.
According to district documents, the agreement will also increase the initial base salary for teachers with zero "years of successful experience" to $53,000, up from the previous base salary of $51,500.
"Teachers have done and continue to do hard work, in spite of obstacles placed by state government, and continue to excel," said Gordon Longhofer, the president of the Palm Beach County CTA, at Wednesday's school board meeting. "We must, therefore, find and chart a new path. One that shows teachers the tangible appreciation we all know they have earned and deserve."
Last year, Palm Beach County public school teachers received an average 7% raise. The year before that, the raise was up to 3.5%.
Up next, the Palm Beach County CTA needs to ratify the agreement before it comes official. The raises will be retroactive to July 1.
The Palm Beach County School Board on Wednesday also approved an hourly pay increase for substitute teachers. The new pay rates will go into effect on Oct. 5 and will run from $15.50 per hour to $20 per hour, depending on a substitute teacher's educational background and experience.
