Bay County school board votes to increase teacher pay

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The Bay County School Board voted to increase pay for experienced and long-serving teachers in the community on Tuesday.

The board agreed to the Association of Bay County Educators’ tentative proposal that uses $1.9 million, which the superintendent said was allocated by the governor to improve existing teacher salaries.

“We have taken these funds and worked with our union partners to distribute those dollars across the entire force,” Superintendent Mark McQueen said.

“We really focused on not only enhancing the beginning teacher pay to just over $48,000, but also what we have is the distribution of those funds all the way across to the highest end of the pay scale,” he added.

The proposal was unanimously supported and will be voted on a final time by the educators’ union before it is ratified.

Board member Steve Moss expressed his gratefulness towards Gov. Ron DeSantis and the education funds he has been able to provide for the county.

“I remember you mentioned, Mr. Superintendent, that you see down the road not necessarily a recruitment problem, but a retention problem,” Moss said.

“We have incredible educators that are committed,” McQueen responded. “But they too have family obligations and responsibilities and may decide not to stay if they’re making the same as a beginning teacher is making. Especially if you have 10, 15, 20 years of experience.”

“So what we tried to do is adjust that to help give them a remuneration that would be more commensurate with their experience,” he added.

In the proposal, the annual pay increase is dependent upon the teachers’ length of experience going into the upcoming school year.

Teachers entering their 16th, 17th and 18th years will receive $4,000 or more compared to the previous year. An educator going into their second year will only see a change of a little over $400.

McQueen was a recent DeSantis appointee to the superintendent position after the former officeholder retired in July. He brought 36 years of military experience, including the title of Major General in the U.S. Army.

Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., called the appointment “well-deserved” and complimented McQueen’s experience and influence in the community, when the news first broke.

“General Mark McQueen has played a major role in rebuilding Bay County after Hurricane Michael,” Dunn said. “I have no doubt he’ll do an exceptional job as superintendent, too!”