Pasco teachers, support personnel ratify contracts

Pasco County teachers and school-related personnel overwhelmingly supported new contract terms for the current academic year, the United School Employees of Pasco announced.

A majority of workers voted, the union said, with 87 percent of teachers voting for their deal and 98 percent of SRP backing theirs.

Voting took place Tuesday, with the results calculated Thursday evening.

The agreements offer all employees small raises, as well as continued fully paid health insurance. It also includes performance bonuses for all eligible teachers, including those who were not included in the state's Best and Brightest program definition.

The district had already begun processing the raises in anticipation of approval.

If the School Board ratifies the terms on Tuesday, the added pay should be distributed before the end of the month.

"We want to thank the dedication of the Union and District bargaining teams for reaching this agreement in the midst of a bleak economic year," USEP President Don Peace said in a statement to all employees.