Contract Negotiations Talking Points

l Budgeting for employee raises and student learning starts here in Broward schools – not in Tallahassee.

l         District officials and negotiators have been completely uncooperative in trying to reach an agreement from
             failing to ask for a budget that includes raises to refusing to provide information.

l  Challenging economic times do not make paying for employee salaries and student learning optional.

l  Broward schools will also once again receive $200 million or more in federal stimulus dollars for the primary
             purpose of saving and creating jobs while reforming public schools.

l  Student success is not optional; paying employees should not be discretionary.

l  District leaders need to budget for salary increases just like members budget for their bills.

l  Working together includes finding ways to pay for employee salaries and student learning.

l  It’s important to remember that district officials have claimed not to have money for employee raises in good
            and bad economic times.

l  District officials know they have the funds needed for employee raises. Superintendent Notter must demand
             they budget for salary increases now.

l  Union leaders and members want to reach a contract settlement, but there has been no sign from district
             officials that they want to cooperate.