F.A.Q.
When was the Broward Teachers Union founded?
The Broward Teachers Union (Local #1975) was founded in 1969.
Where is the union located?
The union maintains office and conference facilities at 6000 North University Drive in Tamarac, Florida. Tamarac is centrally located northwest of Fort Lauderdale in South Florida's Broward County.
How many members belong to the union?
Presently, the union has more than 13,000 members. It is the certified bargaining agent of all education professionals, technical support professionals and education support professionals working for Broward County Public Schools as well as Charter School Professionals who work for the City of Pembroke Pines Charter School System.
How do I become a member?
Click HERE to join today!
What is the primary purpose of the union?
The union works to provide quality, efficient, member-focused services, with the intent of improving the economic and professional status of the county's educators. Read more about the BTU's core values and strategic goals HERE.
How do I get the most up-to-date information on union activities?
The front page of the union's website is constantly updated with the most current information available. All information posted on the website's front page is also posted on the BTU's interactive blog, which can be found HERE. Members are encouraged to share their comments and responses to news articles and other blog postings.
Union and community members are also invited to add the BTU to their RSS feed by clicking HERE.
Is the BTU affiliated with any other unions?
The Broward Teachers Union is affiliated with the Florida Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
Where can I find updates on contract negotiations?
Following each unit's respective negotiations sessions, an update is immediately posted in the Negotiations News Center, which can be found HERE. Updates include a report for each negotiations team, talking points, contact information for each chief negotiator as well as the time, date and location for upcoming negotiations sessions. Members should stay updated and informed about contract negotiations by checking the Negotiations News Center often.
How can I get assistance for certification concerns?
Education Professionals should contact the Certification Department for the School Board of Broward County with certification questions by calling 754.321.2348. Members can also send an email to certificationrequests@browardschools.com.
Technical Support Professionals who require certification for their jobs should contact the Department of Non-Instructional Staffing with questions or concerns at 754.321.1819.
The State of Florida's Certification Hotline can be reached at 1.800.445.6739. Answers to questions are provided after 72 hours. Charter School Professionals are advised to contact the State of Florida Certification Department directly.
If members experience trouble receiving an answer from the local certification office, they need to let their field representative know as soon as possible by calling the union office at 954.486.6250.
Who receives basic or advanced incentives?
Education Professionals should refer to Article 21, Sections A and B of the contract for information on basic and advanced incentives. Forms for the incentives can be downloaded HERE. Salary adjustments for advanced degrees are given two times each year, and transcripts must be into the certification office by October 1 (first semester) or by April 1 (second semester). Please note that once approved, incentives do not have to be renewed.
Charter School Professionals should refer to Appendix B of their contract for information on incentives. Questions should be directed to the City of Pembroke Pines Human Resources Department, which can be reached at 954.435.6587.
Education Support Professionals who have their Bachelors or Masters degrees are also eligible for incentives. More information can be found in Article 17 of their contract. If should be noted that if ESP's job descriptions require that they hold a Bachelors degree, they are not eligible for the incentives.
What kind of leaves does the district and union provide?
Information on all leaves available to Broward County Education Professionals is specified Article 23 of the BTU-EP contract. Likewise, Education Support Professionals can find the same information in Article 12.
For Broward County Public School employees, there is no deadline date for a personal leave application. Personal leave can be taken for a maximum of two years. Maternity and/or child rearing leave can be taken for maximum of three years. Employees returning from leave are guaranteed a position, although it may not be their exact former position.
Education Professionals, Technical Support Professionals and Education Support Professionals are all encouraged to join the Sick Leave Bank. Open enrollment is in the fall. The School Board of Broward County mails applications for enrollment to all eligible teachers.Applications for withdrawal from the Sick Leave Bank due to illness can be obtained from the BTU office in Tamarac.
Information on leaves availabe for the City of Pembroke Pines' Charter School Professionals is specified in Article 17 of the
BTU-CSP contract.
What in-service opportunities are available?
In-service opportunities are voluntary. Each school has an in-service coordinator. Identify this person and contact them with any questions.
An in-service calendar is available in each school and is usually located on the main bulletin board. This contains all approved in-service courses.
Twenty in-service points is equivalent to one college credit.
If a teacher needs a printout of their in-service points, the in-service coordinator can obtain this at the school site.
Where can I find TDIF applications?
Teacher Directed Improvement Funds applications for Broward County Education Professionals are sent to each worksite during the school year or as funds are available. Information about TDIF is available in Article 23/ Section D of the contract. For additional applications or questions, members should contact Employee Relations at 754.321.2440.
Only Education Professionals are eligible for TDIF.
How do I locate my placement on the salary schedule?
To locate your salary level refer to the current contract.
Salary and supplemental pay information is located in Appendix E & Appendix F of your contract.
The payroll secretary at your school can also assist with questions about your contract.
How can I get help for payroll problems?
The first person for members to contact is the person responsible for doing the payroll at each respective worksite. Part of his/her job is to contact the payroll department for information or corrections. The district's payroll department personnel will not speak to individual teachers.
The P.A.F. (Personnel Action Form) can answer many questions and is in the possession of the school payroll contact information. This form includes salary, job title, job length and percentage information. A P.A.F. must be filled out for each job and is the means by which a person gets paid for each job.
Article 19, Section P contains language about payroll errors and over-payment. The District can only go back two years in an over-payment situation and repayment schedule should be negotiated between the teacher and the district.
Who do I contact for help with insurance issues?
Each school has a designated insurance contact (teacher/secretary) that is responsible for checking over and collecting forms at open enrollment and for getting any new information from the Benefits Department to the teachers. Find out who this person is and utilize him/her.
Insurance companies have placed their representatives at the School Board Benefits office. Any questions or concerns should first be directed to these people.
Questions about Dental, Vision, Disability and Retirement should be directed to the main Benefits office number 754.321.3100.
Worker's Compensation questions should be directed to the districts Risk Management Department.
BTU Contract Article 22 contains insurance coverage language. Please refer to this article.
