Bargaining Updates

Bargaining Updates
TALC and SPALC Bargaining Updates

Dear School District of Lee County Staff,

We want to keep you informed about the progress made during the latest bargaining sessions between the School District of Lee County and the Teachers Association of Lee County (TALC) and the Support Personnel Association of Lee County (SPALC). All parties remain committed to collaborative, interest-based bargaining focused on shared priorities such as recruitment and retention, student achievement, employee morale, and fiscal responsibility.

Please visit the Labor and Employee Relations Negotiations webpage to see minutes and recordings for all sessions.

TALC Bargaining Update

The TALC and District bargaining teams held a bargaining session on Monday, May 19, 2025. The session focused on key proposals and committee recommendations that impact instructional personnel.

The bargaining team reached an agreement on a proposal for Technical Colleges addressing the Career and Professional Education Act (CAPE) Postsecondary Funding Eligible Industry Certifications.

The teams also engaged in continued discussion regarding how work experience is credited, particularly in relation to private and out-of-country teaching experience. While no final determination was made, both sides acknowledged the need for additional conversations to clarify eligibility and verification processes moving forward.

The Career Ladder Committee presented a set of recommendations to update the Career Ladder Program, including eligibility timelines and professional learning requirements. While there was general support for the proposed updates, the bargaining team agreed that a cost analysis must be completed before moving forward with any formal approval.

Additionally, the Turnaround Committee recommended that, in the event a contract is not ratified by June 30, 2025, the District apply the current contract language for Turnaround Supplements. This would provide a $4,000 supplement to employees at Risk Level 4 schools and designate East Lee County High School and Island Coast High School as “transition” schools eligible for a $2,000 supplement. Both the District and TALC agreed to accept the recommendation of the schools identified as eligible for the supplement. There was no agreement that the current language supports the payment of the supplement at the beginning of the 25-26 school year, therefore, no supplements will be paid until ratification of a new agreement.

This session marks the conclusion of bargaining until August 19, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., with a second session scheduled for August 25, 2025, before returning to the regular schedule of bargaining every other Monday.

SPALC Bargaining Update

On May 12, 2025, the SPALC and District bargaining teams met as part of our continued Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) process. We appreciate the thoughtful engagement from both teams as we work together to address important priorities for support staff.

Below are key updates and discussion points from the session:

Leave Proposals Under Consideration

Bereavement Leave – OPTION 1

• Up to three (3) days of paid bereavement leave per incident, separate from sick or personal leave.
• Applies to the loss of a: spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, parent-in-law, brother, sister, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or legal dependent.

Parental Leave – OPTION 1

• Up to twenty (20) consecutive workdays of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
• Leave is available to employees with one year of continuous service.
• Paid leave must be used prior to any accrued leave or unpaid leave.
• OPTION 2: Paid parental leave would run concurrently with FMLA, where applicable.

Compensation – OPTION 1

This option was determined by the bargaining team using the interest-based bargaining process to be a viable option to present to the board. It is based on current fund balance availability, pending the release of the state budget:

• 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all SPALC employees – $4.8M
• 2% Compression Adjustment – $3.2M
• 1% for Leave Enhancements and Terminal Pay – $1.6M
• Total Compensation Package Value: $9.6M

Work Experience Verification Process

As shared during the SPALC Labor Management Committee (LMC), the District and SPALC are continuing to refine the Work Experience Verification process. While the current form was not jointly developed, updates are in progress:

• The SPALC logo was added to the document.
• An email communication was sent to principals and district leadership on May 13, 2025.
• An email communication will be sent to employees on May 15, 2026 with a May 30, 2025 submission deadline.
• Documents should be sent to the [email protected] email.
• Bilingual support will be made available, and virtual Open Lab sessions will be offered to assist employees.
• The process will focus on collecting verifiable, job-related work experience, with priority on current employees.
• SPALC leadership expressed a preference to use this data to support compensation planning for FY27 using a tiered approach, similar to the prior year.

Next Steps

• The next SPALC LMC is scheduled for June 4, 2025, to review the resume submission progress and consider next steps.
• The next bargaining session is scheduled for August 4, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., with recurring meetings every other Monday thereafter.

We recognize the vital role educators and support personnel play in the success of our students and schools. These negotiations are part of our commitment to improving working conditions, increasing compensation, and fostering a culture where employees feel valued and supported. We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward in this process.

Sincerely,
The School District of Lee County
The Teacher’s Association of Lee County
The Support Personnel Association of Lee County