Hillsborough schools, teachers reach tentative pay deal

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — After more than a month of negotiations, the Hillsborough County teachers union and the school district have come to a tentative agreement on teacher pay ahead of schedule, the district announced Wednesday.

“The School Board, my team, and I have prioritized reaching an agreement with our employee groups well in advance of the school year. This underscores our commitment to investing in our employees and enabling them to concentrate on student success when the academic year commences,” Superintendent Van Ayres said in a statement.

While the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed in the announcement, if it’s ratified, the district said it will give all eligible employees a pay boost by crediting them with another year of experience on their salary schedule.

So, how much more will employees be making? The announcement didn’t say, but it mentioned that raises will vary depending on the salary step levels of each employee. WFLA reached out to the district for more information.

“This is a significant day for employees in the HCTA bargaining unit. These pay increases are so deserved and I want to make sure our employees recognize how much we care for them and are excited to welcome them back for the 2024-2025 school year,” Ayres continued.

It’s now up to employees and the school board to decide whether or not to ratify the contract.

In a statement, HCTA President Rob Kriete thanked Ayres, the school board and district staff, but said there was still work to be done.

“We are encouraged; however, this does not bring us in line with surrounding school districts. Our children deserve a world-class education, and we must now all work together to ensure we can continue to have the best teachers and support staff for our students,” Kriete said.

Although the district lauded the agreement as “a substantial step forward,” it acknowledged that Florida lags behind most states when it comes to teacher pay, and that its salaries have struggled to be competitive with those of nearby school districts.

According to a report by the National Education Association, Florida was ranked 50th in average teacher pay across the country with the average teacher making slightly over $53,000 during the 2022-2023 school year.

In November, voters will decide on a referendum that would increase local property taxes by one millage to give schools more money.

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