Painters, Grass Cutters Make More Than Broward Teachers

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - In the face of state budget cuts of up to $250 million, some Broward County School Board members are suggesting a review of what they pay for services.

A check of what some trade workers are paid by the district found some make more than long time teachers, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

According to the numbers last year 34 painters and 24 roofers made at least $59 thousand; more per day than teacher with 16 years experience. Eighteen lawn maintenance personnel made $50 thousand and 17 clerks made $52 thousand; more per day than a teacher with 10 years on the job. The records also show a pair of mail clerks made $49 thousand last year; more per day than a teacher with seven years with the district.

Bus drivers also cost more in Broward.

Last year, the district paid $73 million in salaries, benefits and overtime which was more than 60 percent higher than the same positions in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.

"I think we need to make sure that what we're paying for a job is the going rate," board member Laurie Rich Levinson told the paper.

The union which represents the workers, the Federation of Public Employees, said many of those employees with large salaries have been with the district for decades and have reached the top of the pay range for their jobs. They also point out that most of service personnel work year round while teachers only work, typically, 10 months.

Due to the union contracts, Superintendent Jim Notter said it was difficult to contract those types of jobs at a cheaper rate. However, Palm Beach County and Pembroke Pines Charter School have successfully done it.

The non-profit business organization Broward Workshop has offered to come up with a baseline of what should be paid for those services by comparing what the district to pays now to what other government agencies are paying.

Source: The Sun-Sentinel