Carvalho & Union Protect All Teacher Jobs
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Miami-Dade County Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and United Teachers of Dade president Karen Aronowitz announced an agreement on the 2011-2012 school year that will prevent any teachers, and many clerical and school support workers from being laid off.
The new budget, which must be approved by teachers, comes at a time when Broward County Public Schools are set to lay-off more than 1,000 teachers.
"In the midst of our national economic crisis, as school districts across the country are laying off teachers, Miami-Dade County will be the first school district in the state to reward teachers for their performance," Carvalho said.
The announcement revealed that the two sides will use Race to the Top funds to also try and work out teacher raises if at all possible. All total, Miami-Dade will use up to $14 million in the coming year to pay for the planned increases.
Carvalho said teachers in Miami-Dade County will now have the capacity to earn up as much as $100,000 or more.
"It is time for exemplary teachers to be paid at the highest levels," Carvalho said. "It's the fair thing to do."
In addition, Carvalho promised that even though the district faces a $108 million budget hole for the next budget year, the district will not make cuts to art, music, world languages, or physical education.
The teachers union will begin voting on the new plan on June 3 and ending on June 7.
Carvalho also addressed the rumors of Broward County Schools being interested in bringing him to its school system.
"I'm dedicated to this community; I love this community," Carvalho said.
So, Broward has to look for a new commissioner, but Broward Teacher's Union President Pat Santeramo said there are other "Carvalho's" out there.
"We're looking to keep our options open, find the best who will bring economic sense and leadership to the district," Santeramo said.
