Negotiations

August 21, 2015 - The MEA and the School District of Manatee County have signed a Perfect Attendance Incentive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the use of Sick/Personal Leave days for the 2015-2016 school year only.  The effective date of this MOU is Monday, August 24, 2015.  In addition, the MOU for the Modified Instructional Week has been extended.  Please read the MOUs carefully.

Negotiations for 2015-2016 which include salary and benefits will begin soon. 

On January 30, 2015, MEA and the District signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to the student growth portion of the Manatee County Teacher Evaluation System (MCTES).  Unless there are Legislative changes that mandate otherwise, the impact will be that for the next three years teachers will receive no less than 'effective' on the student growth portion of their evaluations.  To read the MOU in its entirety, click here. 

Voting will begin Monday, November 10, 2014 and will end at 4:00 pm on Friday, November 14, 2014.

The ratification votes will take place by paper ballot.  Voting instructions, a ballot and a return envelope will be sent to each member of the teacher and paraprofessional bargaining units.  Click on the following links to read the respective tentative agreements:

Tentative Agreements for Paraprofessionals 2014-2015

Tentative Agreements for Teachers 2014-2015

Tentative Agreements Teacher Salary Schedules 2014-2015

Tentative agreements have been posted at schools.  In addition, teachers were emailed electronic copies of the tentative agreements.  Paraprofessionals will receive a paper copy of the tentative agreements on the paraprofessional contract.    

If you have any questions, please contact MEA at 747-5091 or via email at association@manateeschools.net

Manatee Education Association and the Manatee County School Board Reach Tentative Agreement

MEA and the School Board negotiation teams reached a tentative agreement at 12:48 a.m. on October 14, 2014. 

Teacher Contract Highlights

• 2% investment in the teacher salary schedule.
• Salary step increases for all eligible teachers.
• A minimum $544 salary increase for eligible teachers.
• Conversion of the current salary schedule to a Grandfathered and Performance Pay Salary Schedule to meet requirements of Florida Statute 1012.22 (AKA SB 736).
• Changes to teacher health insurance plan to reduce insurance cost and an opportunity to earn a wellness incentive.
• Board contribution of $1.6 million to health insurance premium increases.
• Board contribution of $5.9 million contribution to the health insurance reserve fund.
• Scheduling flexibility provided for Senior High Schools to benefit teachers and students.
• Total cost of settlement is $5,725,186 which includes health insurance changes.
• Salary increases will be retroactive to July 1, 2014.

Paraprofessional Contract Highlights

• 2% investment in paraprofessional salary schedule.
• A minimum $400 increase for eligible paraprofessionals.
• Changes to paraprofessional health insurance plan to reduce insurance cost and an opportunity to earn a wellness incentive.
• Board contribution of $1.6 million to health insurance premium increases.
• Board contribution of $5.9 contribution to health insurance reserve fund.
• Total cost of the settlement is $1,931,141 which includes health insurance changes.

Salary increases will be retroactive to July 1, 2014.

August 22, 2014

MEA and the School District of Manatee County have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the use of Sick/Personal Leave days for teachers during the 2014-2015 school year only. The effective date of this MOU will be Monday, August 25, 2014. Click here to read the MOU.

In addition, agreements were reached on the following:

• in order to avoid a reduction in pay,  bargaining unit members who were at the top of the salary schedule and received a $1750 supplement in 2013-2014 school year will continue to receive this supplement for the 2014-2015 school year.
• to extend the Memorandum of Understanding on the Modified Instructional Week for 2014-2015.

Negotiations for 2014-2015 which include salary and benefits are on-going.

Questions can be directed to Pat Barber (747-5091 or association@manateeschools.net) or Dr. Diana Greene (708-8770 or greened@manateeschools.net).

Teacher contract tentative agreements 2013-2014

2013-2014 Teacher Salary Schedule

Paraprofessional contract tentative agreements 2013-2014

2013-2014 Teacher Aides and Teacher Assistants Salary Schedules

2013-2014 Parent Liaison and Administrative Parent Liaison Salary Schedule

If you have any questions, please contact MEA at 747-5091 or via email at association@manateeschools.net

Teacher Settlement Highlights

August 13, 2013 - Manatee Education Association and the School District of Manatee County have collaboratively reached tentative agreement on the Teacher Contract for the 2012-13 and the 2013-14 school years.

• This settlement restores 3 years of step movement to a salary schedule that was reduced by 1.75% and frozen in February 2012.
• The funding for this settlement was designated by the Governor and the Legislature for the sole purpose of enhancing teacher pay.
• Teachers eligible for a step were moved on the schedule. 
• The salary schedule is enhanced to ensure that everyone eligible for a three-step increase receives a minimum of $1750.
• Teachers at the top of the salary schedule will receive $1750 as a one-time stipend eligible for retirement benefits.
• The settlement merges the Annual Contract and Professional Services Contract salary schedules into one salary schedule.
• This settlement corrects the placement of teachers previously given credit for experience on the salary schedule at the time of hiring.
• A maximum of 8 years public school experience will be accepted for placement on the salary schedule effective with teachers hired for the 2013-2014 school year.
• The cost without benefits is $6,346,254.
• The parties reached a 3 year agreement through June 30, 2016, with reopeners for salary and fringe benefits.
• This settlement incorporates all 2012-13 tentative agreements agreed to by the parties.

The tentative agreement requires ratification by the members of the bargaining unit and the Manatee County School Board prior to being implemented.

Paraprofessional Settlement Highlights

August 13, 2013 - Manatee Education Association and the School District of Manatee County have collaboratively reached tentative agreement on the Paraprofessional Contract for the 2012-13 and the 2013-14 school years.

• In addition to saving 60 paraprofessional jobs, the Manatee Education Association and the School District of Manatee County reached agreement to provide a $381 raise for every paraprofessional.
• The parties reached a 3-year agreement through June 30, 2016, with reopeners for salary and fringe benefits.
• This settlement incorporates all 2012-13 tentative agreements agreed to by the parties.

The tentative agreement requires ratification by the members of the bargaining unit and the Manatee County School Board prior to being implemented.

MEA SECURES AGREEMENT FOR NON-RENEWED TEACHERS,
FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR MANATEE COUNTY SCHOOLS

June 4, 2013 - MEA and Manatee County Schools have signed an agreement outlining the rights of teachers who were non-renewed to return to work for the 2013-2014 school year as positions open.  This agreement pertains to teachers who were rated no less than effective in any category on the final evaluation for 2012-2013.  These rights will exist through the 10-day count for the 2013-2014 school year.  For more details click on the following to read the Memorandum of Understanding.

MEA also received clarification from the district on the direction principals were given regarding non-renewals of teachers and paraprofessionals.   MEA raised this issue with district management after receiving many calls from members saying not all first year annual contract teachers at their schools had been non-renewed.  As a result, Dr. Diana Greene, Deputy Superintendent for Instruction, sent a memo to MEA and School Board members explaining what actually occurred with both teacher and paraprofessional non-renewals.  For more information click on the following read that memo.

This MOU is related to the first week of work for teachers.

mouworkyear.pdf