PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — "I get excited."
4th-grade teacher Naomi Matilus is talking about the raises the Palm Beach County school board approved Wednesday night.
But she says it should only be the beginning.
"Teachers have so much that we’re required to do. and we all know we’re not paid for the work we are doing. besides us being a teacher, we play a lot of different roles. we’re planning at home, counseling our kids, we’re also nurses when our kids get hurt," says Matilus.
The highest raises, at 3.5 percent, would go to teachers rated highly effective.
Teachers with an effective rating earn 2.75 percent.
Those with an unsatisfactory review or need improvement would receive .5 percent.
"I think it’s moving to that direction because the cost of living is so high in Palm Beach County, they are realizing we now deserve the rate of pay we are at. We’re not there but we’re getting close," says 3rd-grade teacher Brittany Hoyte.
These raises will be on top of the salary hike from a new property tax amendment approved by voters in November.
"We appreciate all the support for teachers because they know our job is never done," says Hoyte.
The raise will be retroactive, going back to July 1st of 2018.
It still has to be officially approved by a teacher vote in March.