Polk County board approves AFSCME and nonunion raises; teachers press for larger pay increases

The Polk County School Board voted Dec. 10 to approve tentative salary agreements with AFSCME Local 2227 and a 4% increase across nonunion salary schedules, actions the board said are retroactive to July 1, 2024 and will be reflected in January paychecks.

The agreements for represented AFSCME workers — which the board described as covering custodial, electronic equipment repair and support (EARS), maintenance trades, vehicle services, warehouse employees and school nutrition assistants — were presented to the board by a district staff member, identified in the meeting as Mister Warren. "The superintendent and staff are pleased to recommend approval of the collaborative tentative agreements," Warren told trustees as he summarized the deal details and ratification process.

Under the AFSCME package, the day custodian starting wage rises from $15.15 to $15.72 per hour; starting pay for school nutrition assistants moves from $15.25 to $15.78. The district said the most experienced school nutrition assistants at the top of the 2024–25 scale would see increases of about 6.5%, bringing top hourly pay to $18.37. Maintenance trades and warehouse positions will receive increases ranging from 3.5% to 5.25% depending on position and step. The district provided a financial impact estimate of $2,335,432 for the AFSCME increases.

Separately, the board approved a nonunion proposal that increases nonunion salary scales and school administrator salary scales by 4% (no level movement). The district reported that 1,106 employees are covered by that proposal and estimated its cost at $3,273,222.

Both sets of raises were presented as enhancements to pay grids and as retroactive to July 1, 2024; the district said affected employees will see the pay reflected in January checks. Board members moved and seconded the motions in open session and the motions carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: Dozens of speakers during the public‑comment period urged larger pay increases and faster action, saying current offers will not stop experienced staff from leaving Polk County schools. Several teachers and union leaders said they already have jobs lined up in neighboring districts.

"If we don't address this now, in 2 years, we will have 2,000 subs of people that are not certified to teach children," said Stephanie Yocum, introduced at the meeting as president of the Polk Education Association. Patrick Bentley, a Polk County teacher and union representative, said the district's pay has left many staff unable to afford housing: "We staff cannot continue like this." Wanda Miller, a 15‑year teacher who said she has accepted a position in Hillsborough County, told trustees: "Your indifference is forcing me to leave the school, administrators, colleagues, and most of all the students I love."

Board discussion at the meeting was brief on the salary items. The district said AFSCME members ratified the tentative agreements on Dec. 7 and that the salary adjustments will be implemented via enhanced salary grids.

The board will continue to negotiate other outstanding matters with employee bargaining units; union leaders urged the board's bargaining team to accept a proposal from the Polk Education Association and to consider placing a millage question before voters in a future cycle to fund longer‑term salary improvements.

The meeting record shows the motions for both items were made, seconded and approved by the board in open session.