During a recent Citrus County School Board meeting, educators expressed gratitude for significant advancements in salary negotiations and working conditions. Mindy Parrish, a paraprofessional at Crest, acknowledged the collaborative efforts that led to necessary raises and improvements in contract language.

Christian Gowrie, a science teacher at Inverness Middle School and president of the Citrus County Education Association (CCEA), highlighted the successful agreement reached two months prior, which he described as a testament to shared values between the educators and the school board. He noted that the teacher pay scale has been rebuilt to its most robust form since before the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing salary compression issues for support staff that arose from the transition to a $15 minimum wage.

Gowrie emphasized the recognition of external educational experience for the first time in decades, which has positively impacted salaries for many educators. He credited the Human Resources and payroll teams for their dedication in ensuring that qualifying staff received appropriate experience credits, resulting in significant salary increases for some.

Additionally, the meeting marked a milestone with the introduction of progressive discipline language in contracts, ensuring fairness and due process for educators facing disciplinary actions. This development reflects a commitment to creating a supportive and equitable working environment within the district. Overall, the discussions underscored a collaborative spirit aimed at enhancing the educational landscape in Citrus County.