ESP Ratification Vote being held January 10
The ratification vote for the 2021-22 ESP Contract will be held electronically from 7 AM to 5 PM on Monday, January 10, 2022.
WHO VOTES? All members of ESP bargaining unit regardless of BTU membership will vote on the tentative agreement summarized in the December 16, 2021 entry below AND specified in the tentative agreement linked to above.
PROCESS. Watch your Broward Schools email inbox (or the primary email address you have on file in the ESS system) for your ballot on Monday morning, January 10 beginning at 7 am. The email will be from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com. If you do not receive your ballot by noon that day (not before) please send an email requesting a new ballot to communications@btuonline.com
The results will be announced to the entire bargaining unit shortly after the close of voting. If approved, the School Board will vote on ratification at a special School Board meeting on January 25.
We encourage you to read the entire text of the tentative agreements linked to above before casting your vote. On behalf of your negotiations team, we urge you to vote "yes" to ratify the MOU and agreements.
Tentative Agreement Reached
BTU's Education Support Professionals bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with the District for 2021-22 salaries and three contract articles. A ratification vote will take place after the holiday break.
These terms were reached on behalf of Education Support Professionals:
- $1500 one-time stipend for all ESP unit members (non-recurring, non-FRS eligible)
- Salary ranges, retroactive to July 1, 2021, of
-
Classroom Assistant: $13.00/hr - $18.83
-
Certified Teacher Assistant: $15.00/hr - $21.92
- Program Assistant (Level 1): $20.61/hr - $31.14
- Program Assistant (Level 2): $25.78/hr - $38.94
- $1000 one-time bonus for instructional personnel who did not qualify for the $1000 Disaster Relief Bonus provided by the State.
Article 16 (F) Professional Development
Stipulates that on early release and professional study days, ESPs will be able to attend professional development training to improve their knowledge and job skills. Requests will not be unreasonably denied.
Note: Article 13 (below) is NOT part of the Tentative Agreement
Article 13 (A) Vacancies
Proposes that prior to filling a vacancy for district positions, current ESPs will be guaranteed an interview for positions for which they are qualified. This Article will be addressed at the next Labor Management meeting on January 19, 2022.
An MOU calling for a $1,000 payment to BTU-EP, BTU-ESP and school-based BTU-TSP bargaining unit members not eligible for the $1,000 payment to classroom teachers appropriated through Senate Bill 2500, Section 46, the General Appropriations Act (“GAA”).
The School District: Agreed to the MOU.
The School District Offered Counter Proposals:
A three and a half percent (3.5%) aggregate increase to the cost of the current salary schedule, retroactive to July 1, 2021.
The District countered with: new salary ranges (all including increases):
• Classroom Assistant: $13.00/hr - $18.83
• Certified Teacher Assistant: $15.00/hr - $21.92
• Program Assistant (Level 1): $20.61/hr - $31.14
• Program Assistant (Level 2): $25.78/hr - $38.94
(all retroactive to July 1, 2021
all employees in the BTU-ESP unit shall receive a one-time $3,000 bonus to be paid in the first paycheck following ratification.
The District countered with: all employees in the BTU-ESP unit shall receive a one time $1,500 one time stipend (non-recurring, non-FRS eligible)
The next session is December 16th at BTU a time to be determined.
At the opening session between the BCPS and the BTU Education Support Professionals, ground rules were shared and agreed upon and both sides presented and explained proposals which will be discussed during caucus and countered at the next session to be held at a time and place to be determined.
BTU Proposed:
- Article 13 (A) Vacancies proposes that prior to filling a vacancy for district positions, current ESPs will be guaranteed an interview for positions for which they are qualified.
- Article 16( F) Professional Development proposes that on early release and professional study days, ESPs will be able to attend professional development training to improve their knowledge and job skills. Requests to attend which are unreasonably denied will be grievable.
- BTU-ESP Salary Proposal 2021-2022 proposes a three and a half percent (3.5%) aggregate increase to the cost of the current salary schedule, retroactive to July 1, 2021. Distribution and allocation are subject to further negotiations.
Additionally, for the 2021-2022 school year, all employees in the BTU-ESP unit shall receive a one-time $3,000 bonus to be paid in the first paycheck following ratification.
The School District Proposed:
- Article 1 (B-14) Definitions proposes changes intended to clarify when an MOU does or does not need to be ratified.
NOTE: An MOU that included ESPs and TSPs offered by BTU at the September 9, 2021 EP negotiating session proposes a $1,000 payment to BTU-EP, BTU-ESP and school-based BTU-TSP bargaining unit members who are not eligible for the $1,000 payment to classroom teachers appropriated through Senate Bill 2500, Section 46, the General Appropriations Act (“GAA”).
The session originally scheduled for Oct 7th has been postponed. The date and time for the next session is December 2nd - 9 am at BTU.
EP Referendum Distribution: Yes=99.3% No=0.7%
EP Vaccine Incentive: Yes=93.5% No=6.5%
The School Board will vote on this at the
September 14th Board meeting. Note (09/14/21):
BTU and the District reached a tentative agreement that will provide all employees in the BTU-ESP unit with a referendum supplement equal to 5% of base salary effective July 1, 2021. The supplements will be paid out in equal installments per pay period.
COVID-19 Financial Program for Employees
In addition, on this ratification vote you will be asked to approve that all permanent employees will receive a one-time, non recurring incentive in the amount of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) through the District's COVID-19 vaccination incentive process.
WHO VOTES?
All ESP bargaining unit members will have the opportunity to vote on the tentative agreements Wednesday through Thursday of next week. Questions can be directed to any BTU field staff representative by calling 954-486-6250.
The vote is open to all members of the bargaining units regardless of union membership. Voting will be held electronically beginning at 7 am on Wednesday, Sept. 8 and ending at 5 pm on Thursday, Sept 9.
IMPORTANT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
Watch your Broward Schools email inbox, or the primary email address you have on file in the ESS system, for your ballot on Wednesday morning, Sept. 8 beginning at 7 am. The email will be from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com.
If you do not receive your ballot by 1 pm that day please send an email requesting a new ballot to communications@btuonline.com.
Voting results will be announced to the entire bargaining unit shortly after the close of voting. The supplements will be paid out in equal installments per pay period. If the agreement passes, the school board will ratify the tentative agreement at a special meeting. We encourage you to read the entire text of both MOUs before casting your vote. On behalf of your negotiations team, we urge you to vote "yes" to ratify both MOUs.
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