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Polk County tentatively agrees teacher, paraeducator and ESP contracts; raises phased, retroactive pay set
Summary
District negotiators presented tentative agreements with the Polk Education Association covering 2024–25 that unions ratified; salary schedule adjustments range by experience from roughly 2.65% to 7.07% across pay lanes, and the district will provide a list of program changes to cover costs.
Polk County School District staff presented tentative collective bargaining agreements for teachers, paraeducators and educational support personnel (ESPs) that union members ratified and that district staff recommended the board approve.
Labor negotiators reported union ratification votes held March 14 showed strong approval: teachers (3,233 votes cast, 3,201 yes; 32 no), paraeducators (615 votes cast, 611 yes; 4 no) and ESPs (273 votes cast, 271 yes; 2 no) — each reported as about 99% approval among those voting.
District staff summarized the salary and contract provisions. The teacher pay structure preserves the state starting salary standard for a 10‑month, no‑experience teacher at $47,005; other lanes and experience levels receive increases ranging approximately from 2.65% to 7.07% depending on years of service and lane. The negotiated increases aimed to reduce compression on the salary schedule. The district also reported targeted supplement changes: the $2,500 school‑counselor supplement will be rolled into base pay on a new schedule rather than paid as a taxed supplement; other sport and activities supplement adjustments were made to align program needs (for example adding assistant weightlifting and girls' flag football supplements with minimum roster criteria).
Paraeducators and ESPs received across‑the‑board increases: paraeducator starting hourly pay was cited as increasing from $15.00 to $15.39; ESP starting pay increased from $15.00 to $15.34 per hour. Tentative agreements will be retroactive to July 1, 2024, for salary adjustments; non‑salary contract language changes become effective July 1, 2025. The contracts run through June 30, 2026, with salaries negotiated annually.
Board members and the superintendent discussed budget impacts and asked district staff to provide a detailed list of programmatic changes or cost savings that might be considered to offset the pay increases. The superintendent said he will present a color‑coded list of proposed program reductions or adjustments to be considered as part of the budget process. Staff said they will provide those details to the board for further discussion.
Ending: With union ratification complete, district staff said the next steps are board consideration of the agreements and continued budget planning to accommodate the retroactive and ongoing salary changes.
