Orange teachers and other school workers to get raises

Most Orange County public school teachers will get pay hikes of more than $2,000 while other employees — from cafeteria workers to school principals — will get 4 percent raises, under an agreement the Orange County School Board approved Tuesday night.

Teachers will also get a onetime $500 bonus under the tentative agreement that must now be ratified by the local teachers union.

“We’re happy to see that we got a raise considering the legislature gave such a low 47-cent increase,” said Wendy Doromal, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.

Although the Florida Legislature increased overall school funding for the coming year, much of the money is earmarked for school safety, including the hiring of more police officers and social workers.

The per-student funding available for general expenses, such as raises, went up an average of 47 cents per pupil statewide. The teacher raises will be based on those instructors’ yearly evaluations. Teachers with “highly effective” ratings — about 85 percent of Orange’s about 14,000 teachers, Doromal said — will get raises of $2,075 while those with “effective” ratings will get $1,650. Those with lower ratings will get $550.

Starting pay for brand-new teachers will also increase by about $500, to $40,000, Doromal said.

The district’s “classified” employees, which includes classroom aides, cafeteria workers, office clerks, and bus drivers, among others, will get 4 percent raises.

“It’s well deserved,” said Bill Sublette, school board chairman. “You are all so important to what happens in our schools.

School administrators, including principals, will get that 4 percent pay hike, too.

The salary hikes will be effective July 1.