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Brevard Federation of Teachers reports 96% ratification for 2024-25 contract; union urges closer review of district health plan
Summary
Union president Anthony Kluge reported a worksite ratification count of 3,097 ballots (approximately 66% turnout), with 2,980 votes in favor and 78 opposed to the 2024-25 collective bargaining agreement; he thanked bargaining teams and urged board oversight of the health insurance plan after a consultant's projections were contradicted by district figures.
Anthony Kluge, president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, told the school board during public comment that the union's worksite ratification for the 2024-25 collective bargaining agreement ran Aug. 19-23 and produced 3,097 ballots cast (about 66% of the bargaining unit). "There were 2,980 yes votes and 78 no votes," Kluge said, characterizing the outcome as a 96% yes ratification.
Kluge praised both the union and district bargaining teams and thanked the board and superintendent for stretching the district budget to provide competitive raises. He disputed recurring misinformation about the pay increases, saying "not a cent of this raise came from millage" and that the raise structure ensures returning teachers will not be paid less than new hires.
Kluge urged the board to scrutinize the district's health insurance consulting after earlier statements from the consultant said the plan would need a multi-million-dollar infusion by June 30. "In actuality, BPS did not need to put a cent into the plan, and by June there was a $2,700,000 surplus in the fund," he said, calling the discrepancy "a big difference, an $8,000,000 difference" and asking the board to seek greater accountability and better information from the plan's consultant.
Kluge also recommended the district set the plan for next year's raises earlier in the cycle rather than waiting until June, to avoid assuming contingent state funding.
What's next: The board had added approval of the 2024-25 collective bargaining agreement to the agenda and later approved consent items that included contract action; Kluge's comments request follow-up oversight of the health plan.
