The amount of teachers who are retiring on this list is stark proof that we are not retaining experienced teachers. The reasons run the gamut from severe micromanaging by the district to never giving teachers a raise on their permanent salary. Everything else is a priority when the budget is discussed. And even when we think budget hearings are over, some board members continually inject chaos in the mix. The last Board Meeting had many chaotic moments, but one did not escape my notice because I heard it as an item which is directly related to everyone’s salary. During the discussion a new way to micromanage salaries was slipped into the mix. Alston made a proposal which would change the money available for salaries. He was shocked that every employee didn’t have the opportunity like teachers to continue their education. His proposal would provide every employee with $1000 to continue their education. This is an additional $17,288,000 carved out of the budget each year. Another major change in the budget which did not go through the appropriate process. It should not be considered during this school year, but that’s exactly what Alston insisted upon. He said he wanted a plan by December and implementation by January 2024. He ignored the fact that this money is part of the total cost of compensation and should go though the various unions or employee groups before it’s considered. I can almost guarantee that every employee would rather have the additional $1000 in their pocket each year rather than a program similar to the Teacher Directed Incentive Fund. This is but one example of how decisions are made in the District. One Board Member gets outraged about something and millions of dollars are siphoned away from permanent salary increases. Enough - Give a 7% increase to teachers and retain those who are directly responsible for student outcomes.

Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County are both giving 7% raises to their teachers and last I heard all Broward was planning on was 1.7 percent AND THAT's the money the state of FL gave to teachers. If Broward values our teachers they need to give them a 7% raise like the other counties! What's to stop our teachers from going to these two counties to work? They need a living wage with ONE job!

We need to retain our teachers in the district by giving them a raise which at least matches other South Florida Counties. If you give anything other than a 7% raise you are going to loose teachers to our neighboring counties. Who will you hire then? People need to make a living from ONE job. If you value our teachers, you will pay them fairly.

Good morning, Chair Alhadeff, School Board Members, and Dr. Peter Licata, Superintendent. My name is Sue Colton, and I am a retired educator with 32 years of experience with Broward County Public Schools. I support retaining high-quality teachers with the School Board of Broward County, Florida. One of the most critical ways to retain teachers is to value and support them with an adequate salary. Please dig deep and approve a salary increase for teachers at least equal to that of our surrounding school districts. Miami-Dade teachers received a 7-10% raise and contract settlement before school opened, and Palm Beach County approved a 7% pay increase and a 3% bonus for teachers last month. We thank you for approving the MOU regarding referendum bonuses in August; however, bonuses are a short-term solution. Pay raises result in long-term, permanent increases in income and financially extend far into the future, including retirement. Dr. Licata's commitment to being "Student-Centered, Teacher-Supported, and Principal-Led" has inspired our district to move forward and return to our previous "A Rated" District Status! I know we can do this; supporting teachers with a livable wage will put us over the top! Please direct your Negotiations Team to settle this contract and the others that follow before the upcoming holidays. Thank you for listening, and thank you for your leadership each and every day. Every 1 Counts!