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School district and HSEF reach economic agreement covering support staff; one-time payments, step increases included
Summary
The board approved a negotiated economic package with the Hillsborough School Employees Federation covering support professionals: step increases, pay schedule movement and one-time payments, funded in part by bus-patrol revenues.
The Hillsborough County School Board approved a negotiated economic salary proposal with the Hillsborough School Employees Federation (HSEF) on Tuesday, covering roughly 4,400 district support employees including custodians, school nutrition staff, bus drivers, maintenance and security personnel.
What was approved: The agreement includes a 0.25 increase on the instructional support salary schedule with eligible employees moving up one level. Employees who are at the top level of their pay grade will receive a one-time step payment of $2,000. Certain positions (custodians, crew leaders, school nutrition assistants, transportation specialists for FTE/routing/planning and training/recruitment) will be regraded; school nutrition production coordinators will receive a one-time $2,000 payment. Incentives for transportation employees (perfect tenant, safe driver, ESE and alternative school routes) will be funded through bus-patrol funds.
Cost and funding: The district estimated the total cost at about $5.2 million, with approximately $3.2 million funded from bus-patrol funds to support transportation-related incentives and payments.
Process and ratification: The superintendent thanked both bargaining teams and noted the tentative agreement had been ratified by HSEF members (96.11% of voting members approved). District and union leaders said ratification steps would proceed so payments can be implemented quickly.
Why it matters: The agreement affects a large group of essential, often lower-paid employees whose work supports day-to-day operations of schools. Board members and union representatives framed the package as an important step toward workforce stability amid broader funding challenges and enrollment shifts.
Next steps: District staff will implement the pay changes, process the one-time payments and report back on fiscal impacts; ratification procedures for other bargaining units were discussed separately in the meeting’s employee and student input portion.
Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the board meeting where the package and ratification results were publicly discussed.
