Settlement provides salary increase for all teachers, higher minimum pay, and more

The School Board of Sarasota County and the Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association are happy to announce a tentative agreement on a labor contract that will cover the approximately 5,200 employees of the School District.

This agreement covers the 2021-22 school year. Teachers will receive an additional 5.25% increase on their 2021-22 salary.  Teachers already received a 0.5% increase on July 1, 2021. 

The parties also agreed to raise the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 per year, and to reinstitute the BA+30 and MA+45 education supplement.

For classified employees, the parties agree to raise all salaries by a minimum of $2 per hour, and to add three lanes onto the classified salary schedule.  The parties will continue to work on which employees are placed on the new salary lanes.

The two parties are pleased to announce this tentative settlement prior to the start of the holiday break.  “Our teachers and support staff have worked tirelessly during the pandemic years to educate our students,” said SC/TA President Pat Gardner. “I am happy that the school district recognizes their work and appreciates everything they have done.”

“I appreciate the SC/TA’s collaboration in reaching an agreement that recognizes the hard work of teachers and support staff in such a difficult and stressful year,” said Dr. Brennan Asplen, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. “We hope this announcement allows our employees to rest and focus on family and friends over this well-deserved winter break.”

On behalf of our School Board, we want to wish all of our employees a joyous holiday season, and we continue to thank our community for supporting our exceptional School District.

— Jody Dumas, Assistant Superintendent of Operations