The Lee County School Board approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Teachers Association of Lee County for fiscal years 2025, 2026 and 2027.

At the June 4 meeting, Board Member Armor Persons said he was very disappointed in the union.

He said they have been told that new teachers are living in what is like college dorms, yet the district offered them 8% last year and 5% this year, but the union gave them 3% last year and 1% this year.

“A new teacher would be making $54,999 a year. Instead, they are going to be making $50,500 this year. They got a $500 boost in a beginning teacher pay,” Persons said. “With this inflation, and last year they got a 3%. They got a little over 4% in two years. That puts us at a huge disadvantage in hiring new teachers when every other district surrounding us pays more. The union is not looking out for beginning teachers, or first-year teachers. They are not getting the full amount. I cannot support this.”

Board Members Chris Patricca and Jada Langford-Fleming also voted against the agreement.

According to the agreement, “effective July 1, 2023, the district will adopt a starting salary schedule with a minimum base salary of $50,500 for instructional staff, excluding special instructional staff who will receive a minimum base salary of $58,010.”