Teacher incentives for ‘at-risk’ schools approved
Union calls plan a ‘pay cut for the many, disguised as help for the few’
School District of Lee County teachers will get more to teach at schools with greater challenges.
The Lee County School Board on Tuesday approved an incentive package for up to $9,000 for teachers who would like to teach at at-risk schools to help fill instructional vacancies.
Risk ratings are based on students coming in, lower socioeconomic status and students at level 1 in terms of student achievement on state test scores, which range from 1-5.
Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said the teacher initiative underscores the district’s commitment to two critical strategic priorities – recruiting and retaining high-performing teachers and increasing student achievement.
“It reflects our fundamental belief that great teaching deserves to be recognized and supported in meaningful and sustainable ways,” she said. “It is important to clarify that while we deeply value the important work being done at the bargaining table and we look forward to continuing those conversations as soon as possible, this initiative is statutorily distinct and separate from those negotiations. We appreciate the collaboration of our labor partners. This incentive program stands on its own as a key part of our broader district strategy to invest in our people and to support student achievement and ensure that we retain and uplift the incredible talent already working hard across our schools.”
The incentive includes compensation ranges for each risk level – ranging from four – the most at-risk — to one.
For risk level four the total incentive range is from $2,500 to $9,000 — $2,500 is for school level incentive, $6,500 for critical subject/courses and $2,500 for complementary subject/courses.
The risk level three incentive ranges from $2,000 to $6,500 – $2,000 for school level incentive, $4,500 for critical subject/courses and $1,500 for complementary subject/courses.
The risk level two incentive ranges from $1,000 to $3,500 – $1,000 for school level incentive, $2,500 for critical subject/courses and $500 for complementary subject/courses.
The risk one level incentive ranges from $0 to $1,000 – $1,000 for critical subject/courses.
“Whether our teachers are helping students to overcome learning gaps, guiding them towards success in critical academic areas, or inspiring confidence and curiosity, our students succeed because they lead the way,” Carlin said. “Our teachers are truly the heartbeat of Lee County schools, and this initiative is one more way we are investing in them.”
The Teachers Association of Lee County sent out a statement Thursday morning, stating that the school board adopted the resolution without engaging the collective bargaining and without notifying the union.
“Let’s be clear – this was not a collaborative effort,” TALC President Kevin Daly said. “TALC contributed to a risk-rating tool months ago, but at no point did the district share or bargain over this new compensation structure. Most educators will receive nothing under this plan. That’s not equity — it’s exclusion.”
Although Florida law allows some discretion in urgent situations, TALC asserts that the district’s decision is a misuse of that authority. The union is “currently reviewing legal options and engaging members in organized response efforts.”
“This is a pay cut for the many, disguised as help for the few,” Daly said. “The district has sent a message that some educators are more deserving than others — and that the voices of teachers, parents, and community members can be ignored. We will not stand for that.”
As of May 29, the Lee County School District had 263.7 instructional vacancies, down from 575.3 total instructional vacancies on April 24.
The north region has 49 instruction vacancies, the east region has 111.5, the west region has 46.2, the south region has 40, and special centers have 17 instructional vacancies.
“Most of the teacher vacancies at at-risk (schools) is in the North and East regions. They are not forced transfers, but financial incentives for teachers based on education risk ratings and critical complementary subject courses,” Carlin said. “This sends a clear and powerful message – teacher incentives are a priority in all of us and united in our care and commitment to this noble profession.”
“In the East Zone there is a tremendous number of students that do not have a teacher. This incentivizes our teachers to work in our highest risk schools and support our students in these critical needs,” Carlin said. “We are still at the table and still bargaining and still working to improve overall compensation.”
Cape Coral and North Fort Myers are in the district’s West Zone.
Board member Armor Persons, whose district is mostly in the East Zone, thinks the incentive plan is really needed.
“It was the same thing last year, and the year before, and year before – all the openings are in the East Zone comparatively to the other zones. I definitely support this,” he said.
Carlin said teachers have an opportunity now to say they would like to be a teacher at one of these at-risk schools and be eligible to receive those incentives.
“That is why the timeliness is key. They have an opportunity in the transfer period to transfer,” she said.
Board member Melisa Giovannelli said the district is in a critical situation right now.
“We are trying to have teachers in those high-need schools and lots of those schools where the need is in the East Zone – it is very difficult, and it costs a lot in gas and time to get there. I don’t know how else we can get people there if we don’t compensate them,” she said. “Right now, we have to focus on our student’s needs and that is a critical situation. We don’t even know if this will be the answer, but the option that we have at the moment. Student achievement is only going to be the measurement of our success and if it doesn’t happen, we are in trouble.”