Broward County schools explores raising some teacher pay to $100,000

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (FLV) – Broward County Public School board members are seeking to raise compensation for county teachers and principals.

The initiative, proposed by Board Member Dr. Allen Zeman, would reportedly increase teacher pay to $100,000 and $150,000 to principals by 2025, including benefits. The consideration comes just as Dr. Peter Licata was introduced as the districts new superintendent.

“This is my fourth day on the job and you’re gonna ask me to reinvigorate an entire budget?” Licata remarked.

The board decided at Tuesday’s meeting to pause immediately moving forward with the proposal.

According to Glassdoor, a median estimate for a teacher at Broward County Public Schools is $55,089 dollars. However, salaries can range from $46,000 to $68,000 per year.

Zeman’s solutions for the hike include state subsidies and additional money from the referendum, as well as higher property tax revenues. Zeman cites a 9.1% in state funding and 13% rise in property values as part of his reasoning. He hopes the district can form two budgets, the one currently being arranged, and another with his considerations, according to the news outlet.

Zeman insists raising teacher pay would make Broward County a standard-bearer for school systems across the southeast.

“I believe we should prioritize teachers and to ensure that our teachers and our ESP’s are appropriately paid,” said Board Member Jeff Holness. “We should have that as priority when we look at our budget. However, I would like to see a thorough, robust discussion on it.”

And I would like to see that happen in a workshop, because I believe that its an important topic to discuss,” he continued. “I don’t know if we would have enough time, adequate time, to go through all of that today. And I want to make sure we can go through it in detail.”

While vowing his support, Licata echoed the board’s reasoning. The new superintendent wants to cautiously assess Zeman’s proposal before taking any further action. He believes it could be fiscally irresponsible at this time.

“I think we have an opportunity to do this, I think we can do this, but I think to rush it through would be, it would be non-prudent of us the make such big decisions where it could have residual effects for the long term,” Licata said.

In agreement, the board voted to take up the issue at a later date.