Schools Budget OK'ed Amid Protests

The first Pinellas County School Board meeting that interim schools chief Dr. John A. Stewart presided over came with controversy Wednesday: 50 teachers, clad in red T-shirts, protesting the $1.3 billion budget up for adoption.

The members of the Pinellas County Teachers Association showed up to plead with the board to reject a the spending plan and find a remedy for their dwindling paychecks.

One by one, the teachers spoke about not receiving raises in the past five years. They expressed concerns about a state-mandated 3 percent contribution to the Florida Retirement System. They worried aloud about a looming increase in health care premiums. They stated their opposition to impending furlough days.

Several people in the audience cried as they heard stories of hardship. One teacher told the board that she worked two jobs and might have to find additional work if health care premiums increase.

“Do not give us furlough days, and do not raise the current 20 percent employee contribution to our health care,” teacher Sarah Madde said.

Board member Linda Lerner told the teachers: "We're all moved by your personal stories."

The school board also approved the budget. Members voted to adopt the $1.33 billion spending plan, along with a small increase in the property tax rate.

The new rate is 8.3850, which amounts to about a five-cent increase per $1,000 of property value.

During the school board meeting, Stewart also introduced three items that he said were high priority:  

• He directed staff to finalize recommendation for teacher allocations by early October. This task includes balancing class size and ensuring that each teacher has the appropriate number of students.    
• He pledged to roll out a new Data Dashboard to school  principals Oct. 6. It will be on the school district website and allow parents, teachers and students access demographic reports, FCAT data, School Improvement Plans, school grades and other information. The target date for full implementation is Nov. 4.
• He noted that the county tax referendum that was originally passed in 2004, and again in 2008, is up for renewal in 2012. The money is used to pay $3,000 of each teacher's salary, and also for additional teacher training, special student reading programs, the purchase of textbooks, technology equipment, and materials for art and music classes.