The Santa Rosa County School Board has agreed to a step pay increase this year rather than go into arbitration with Santa Rosa Professional Educators.
Here is the official statement from SRPE to its members:
I am writing this afternoon with great excitement to let you know that the School Board has decided in favor of SRPE concerning the step increase. SRPE filed a grievance with the district on behalf of our members to require that step be given retroactively to district employees. Our Negotiation’s team and President Rhonda Chavers, diligently worked to provide a factual basis for the information represented in the grievance through examination of the district budget, School Board minutes, and the Master Contract language. Our association chose to go to step three of the grievance procedure which would have required both parties to go to arbitration.
Step three of this process was discussed at today’s School Board meeting. The School Board members voted unanimously in SRPE’s favor to give retroactive step to district employees. You will receive this increase along with the retroactive amount which will be reflected on your paycheck. The grievance process has been stressful and lengthy.
We would like to thank each of you for submitting your suggestions to help cut the budget, and your continued support. We would also like to thank David Godwin of Pace High School for volunteering his time to meet with our President and Negotiation Team to comb through each section of the School District budget to help locate the discrepancies which proved there were funds available for such an increase. Mr. Godwin has spoken to the School Board more than once concerning this topic, and in doing so, he helped to raise awareness among citizens in the community.
It is this type of team work that so perfectly aligns our purpose- to serve our members! Once again, we would like to thank each of you for your continued support, and vested interest in education!! You helped make this victory possible!! Congratulations!!!!