Palm Beach school board unanimously approves travel, pay and personnel items; PBA contract modifications ratified

The Palm Beach County School Board unanimously approved a series of procedural and personnel items at its November meeting, including travel for three newly sworn board members, contract modifications with the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), salary increases for one employee group and a personnel addendum that allows employees to begin new positions.

Chair (referred to in the meeting as Brill) moved to add several items to the agenda for good cause so new board members could attend the Florida School Board Association conference beginning Dec. 3. The board then approved travel requests submitted for District 2 member Virginia Savietto (BRD 1), District 1 member Matthew Lane (BRD 2) and District 5 member Gloria Branch (BRD 3). The board found each request met the requirements of Florida Statute 1001.39.

Superintendent Michael Burke recommended approval of modifications to the collective bargaining agreement with the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association. The board approved the contract modifications; Burke stated the ratification by PBA was finalized the prior day. The board also approved salary increases for employees formerly represented by the Association of Educational Secretaries and Office Professionals (LR 2) and approved the personnel addendum (P2) that will allow employees to begin in new positions.

All listed motions were called, seconded on the record when noted, and carried by unanimous votes. The consent agenda — which included two grant items — was also approved without objection earlier in the meeting.

The board recorded no recorded dissents during the votes and adjourned after completing the published agenda.

What's next: The approved travel is intended to allow newly elected members to participate in FSBA events in early December; implementation timelines for pay increases and the personnel addendum were not specified in the meeting materials on the record.