Salary referendum credited with improving staffing; board hears financial summary

The salary and referendum oversight committee reported measurable progress to the Pasco County Schools board on Jan. 13. Mr. Sirkhew, the committee chair, said the referendum is meeting its goals to increase competitiveness and retention: the starting teacher salary rose to $50,000 for the 2024–25 year, and committee materials show improved staffing numbers compared with prior years.

Mr. Sirkhew noted that referendum revenue collected was $59,200,000 — exceeding a projection of $58,900,000 — and expenditures on allowable supplements totaled $56,200,000, including $6,200,000 allocated to charter schools. "Those are the dollars that are impacting a bus driver, a teacher, a helper," he said, adding the program is intended to keep staff in Pasco County rather than serving as a short-term training ground.

Board members and the superintendent praised the oversight effort, and district staff said vacancy counts decreased substantially (from about 314 vacancies earlier to 85 reported at the meeting), with broad improvements across job categories. District finance staff also described that referendum-funded supplements average roughly 11.7% of compensation for eligible nonadministrative employees.

Committee and staff members stressed the work is ongoing: some specialized areas (transportation, certain trade workers, exceptional student education positions) remain harder to fill and will receive targeted efforts. The board did not take new action on the referendum itself but thanked committee members for their oversight and recommended continued monitoring.