Ron Stone, an associate superintendent who is the district's chief negotiator, said the raises will range from about 5.4 percent to about 10 percent, with the highest raises for new teachers. With the raises and bonuses, the district will be better positioned to recruit and retain teachers, officials said. This summer, board members will be presented with a recommended budget and asked to approve a tentative property tax rate. The new tax rate has not been figured yet, though budget officials guessed it could drop slightly from last year. Final budget approval will come in September.
Board members have some tough decisions to make.
Several board members said they should assess those initiatives and consider honoring some of the commitments they made last year, including funding elementary school curriculum specialists. St. Petersburg Times.