Lee County school support staff get 4.2% pay raise amid budget cuts

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Some Lee County School District employees will see a pay raise after the school board approved next year's collective bargaining agreement.

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The contract covers support staff, including custodians, cafeteria workers, bus attendants, clerical staff and maintenance workers. The agreement includes an average pay raise of 4.2%.

For employees whose raise would total less than $750, the district will instead guarantee a minimum increase of $750. Employees below their target salary will jump 30% closer to that salary.

Employees above their target salary will get a one-time bonus of $750. As part of the agreement, the district is eliminating 10 positions, including some clerk typist and cafeteria attendant jobs.

However, officials say they hope to place those employees in other positions within the district. This deal comes at a difficult time for Lee County Schools.

The district is trying to close a $46 million budget gap and has already announced plans to non-renew 457 employees, including 257 teachers. Parents have raised concerns about what fewer employees could mean for classrooms, programs and student support services moving forward.

While the district continues to make tough decisions to balance its budget, the agreement represents a bright spot for some of its employees.

The pay increase takes effect July 1, and any eligible one-time bonuses are expected to be paid out at the end of August.