Teachers in Miami-Dade County, Fla., would get immediate raises of between 2 percent and 6 percent, and starting teachers would take home nearly $2,000 more in the first year, under a tentative agreement reached between the local union and the school district.
Members of the Dade Federation of Teachers are expected to vote on the contract by the end of the month. If they approve it, the school board will vote on it Dec. 13.
Under the agreement, the base salary for a starting teacher would rise from $34,200 in the first year to $36,250, retroactive to July 1, 2006. It would increase to $38,000 in the second year, and to $40,000 in the third year. Salaries for the most experienced teachers would rise to $68,225.
Teachers would also continue to enjoy 100 percent employer-funded health insurance, and prescription and dependent-coverage costs would decrease.
The deal came after nine months of negotiations and teacher protests.
