Yesterday, the Legislature issued its Final Budget Conference Report. We appreciate that the Legislature provides more than $1 billion for K-12 education in the State of Florida. Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) share of the increase is approximately $93 million, as claimed by the Legislature. However, the Legislature has already earmarked more than 82% of the additional funding towards categories such as teacher raises ($47 million) and retirement system contributions ($29 million). Once the earmarks are addressed, the District would have limited funding available to address other needs such as educational programming, technology, and inflationary items such as rising health care costs and utilities.

Although the Legislature approved funding for raises for classroom teachers and other instructional personnel (including principals and assistant principals), our teachers won't see the raises until 2014. Teachers measured as 'effective' would receive a $2,500 increase and teachers measured as 'highly effective' would receive up to $3,500. But the allocation does not cover a salary increase for other employees who serve our children on a daily basis, including, but not limited to bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and paraprofessionals. We are asking the Governor and Legislature to release the funding immediately for raises for our teachers and for flexibility so we can address other needs within our District.