Broward School Board approves 3% recurring pay increase for district employees

The Broward County School Board voted unanimously at a special meeting to adopt a motion providing an average 3% recurring salary increase to eligible BPAA, ESMAB, and BTUEP employees for the 2024–25 school year. The board took items 1 through 3 together and approved the package following public comment and brief questions from members.

The pay increase was moved by Dr. Zeman and seconded by School Board Member Thompson. The board chair called for public comment before the vote; after receiving a registered speaker and representatives from employee groups, the chair put the question and said, “the ayes have it and it is passed unanimously.”

The raise is recurring, meaning it becomes part of base pay rather than a one-time supplement, a detail several union and employee representatives stressed during public comment. Dr. Trudy Germanovich, a registered speaker, said she was "heartened" by the board’s decision and that putting bond monies into teachers’ pay earlier in the school year is a positive step, while cautioning that "we all know it's not enough to cover rising costs in Broward."

Ana Fusco, president of the Broward Teachers Union, urged the board to continue bargaining early and to consider nonmonetary changes that could ease teachers’ workloads. "Trust teachers. Let them be seen as professionals, and just let them teach," Fusco said, praising the district’s new leadership for recognizing the need to "take care of all of our educators in our public schools." Lisa Maxwell, identified in the meeting as executive director of BPA, thanked the superintendent and chief financial officer and described the raise as "a recurring raise" that helps bring equity across employee groups.

Mark Kaplan, identified as the principal of Coral Lakes and speaking on behalf of more than 600 principals and assistant principals, said the recurring raise "meant a lot to us." Pete Tinjum, who identified himself as a representative for SMAB, thanked the board for including SMAB employees in the second referendum dollars and asked the board to pursue parity for advanced-degree stipends across employee groups.

David Azarito, the district’s chief people officer, acknowledged disparities in advanced-degree stipends across employee groups and said the district is working with "the leaders of the Meet and Confer groups" to compile a salary handbook and bring details to a workshop in May. "For instance, I know [teachers with] PhD are at 8,000. Our principals are at 4,000. ESMAB is lower than that," Azarito said.

Board discussion was short and focused on the equity of increases and outstanding pay-stipend disparities. School Board Member Holmes asked specifically about the advanced-degree differences; Azarito confirmed the disparity and said staff would present numbers and proposed fixes in a future workshop.

After the vote the chair adjourned the special meeting; the board planned to hold a press conference and then resume a scheduled workshop.

Votes at a glance: Items 1–3 (motion to adopt average 3% recurring salary increase for eligible BPAA, ESMAB, and BTUEP employees for the 2024–25 school year) — Moved by Dr. Zeman; seconded by School Board Member Thompson; passed unanimously.