Citrus bargaining teams reach tentative agreement on non‑economic contract language; debate continues over pay and insurance

Negotiators for the Citrus County Education Association (CCEA) and the Citrus County School District (CCSD) confirmed they have resolved nearly all non‑economic articles in two draft contracts but remained apart on compensation and health‑insurance details after a multi‑hour bargaining session. The district presented a counter that adds a one‑time retention supplement and modest across‑the‑board salary adjustments, while the union pressed for clearer protections on planning time, access to student discipline records, and training for support staff.

The teams said they have increased tentative agreements from nine to 25 and are down to three open articles in each contract: teacher and support personnel rights (Article 7), teaching/working conditions (Article 8), and compensation and insurance. The district described its economic counter as a combination of a 1% salary increase for instructional staff (which includes statutorily required performance pay), a $305,200 allocation for support staff, an added paid holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), and a proposed $20‑per‑month board insurance match increase. The district also proposed a nonrecurring retention supplement intended to be retirement‑creditable; fringe costs were calculated at 22.3 percent. The district estimated a total fiscal impact of about $1,253,900 for the package presented.

Why it matters: teachers and support staff said pay and insurance remain top concerns for retention and daily operations, while the district said budget constraints limit recurring increases. Both sides…