Lake schools, teachers agree to increase base pay

The Lake County school district and its teachers union have reached an agreement to boost minimum teacher’s pay, though not to the $47,500 touted by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the district announced Friday.

The agreement, which must be voted on by the Lake County School Board and teachers, would raise the minimum salary for classroom teachers to $44,750. It would also provide raises of 1% to 2% to Lake teachers who already earn at least $44,750.

The school district said it did not receive enough money from the state to make $47,500 the base pay for its teachers. Its starting salary is now $40,400.

DeSantis, who called 2020 “the year of the teacher,” signed a bill in June that earmarked $400 million to increase teacher pay, with the goal of making $47,500 the average minimum salary. Another $100 million was to be spent boosting pay for teachers already more than that.

The law said school districts were to get as close to $47,500 as they could with their salary funds from the state.

Other Central Florida school districts have not yet reached agreements with their unions on teacher pay.

But the Orange County teacher’s union is upset with Orange County Public Schools’ proposal. It would hike pay for classroom teachers to $47,500, if they earn less than that now, but would give raises of less than 1% to teachers already earning more, said Wendy Doromal, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.

The union wants 3% raises for all teachers and instructional employees, Doromal said.

The Lake school board is to vote on its salary proposal at its meeting Monday.

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