MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNITED TEACHERS OF DADE REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) and United Teachers of Dade (UTD) reached a tentative agreement today on contract negotiations for over 21,000 teachers and 4,600 support and clerical personnel. The tentative salary model will facilitate a seamless transition from the existing salary schedule to grandfathered and performance-based schedules for the 2014-2015 school year.

“This is a momentous day for teachers in Miami-Dade,” said Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “The combination of compensation increases and a superior benefits package will reward those who have the greatest impact on the future of our students: our teachers and support personnel.”

Despite lack of sufficient funding from Tallahassee, the salary model ensures that the average base salary increase for teachers under the tentative agreement is 4.26 percent. Additionally, all existing teachers will receive compensation increases of close to $2,500 through a combination of one or more of the following: base salary increases, one-time supplement payments, and Race to the Top performance pay.

All teachers will be eligible for Race to the Top performance pay. A total of $20 million will be awarded, with individual awards ranging from approximately $1,000 to $4,000.  When including base salary increases as well as Race to the Top performance pay, the average salary increase under the tentative agreement for teachers is 6.51 percent.

Instructional support personnel (paraprofessionals, security monitors, and UTD office personnel) will also receive a 2.3 percent salary increase plus a one-time supplement of $331.

The total cost of this salary proposal for both teachers and educational support personnel is $70 million (including Race to the Top performance pay).

Beginning July 1, 2014, Florida will require all districts have two compensation systems: a performance pay system for annual contract teachers and a "grandfathered" system for teachers with professional service and continuing contracts. The largest raises in the "grandfathered" system will dictate the size of the increases for teachers on the performance pay schedule. To facilitate this transition, the parties also agreed to language that will enable the creation of this schedule in the coming months.

Despite projected healthcare cost increases of $60 million, the tentative agreement results in the maintenance of a no-cost healthcare option for employees and continued subsidy of dependent coverage. 

This tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the UTD membership and approval by the School Board of Miami-Dade County.

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