Impasse Declared in ‘STAR’ Negotiations 

MDCPS’ Bargaining Team declared impasse during Monday’s “STAR” collective bargaining session with UTD negotiators.  Both sides met for the second round of talks on the District’s STAR proposal plan but no agreement was reached by either side.  UTD rejected the State mandated plan the district had presented during the first bargaining session.   

“The District’s plan is offensive to our dedicated and hardworking teachers and support staff,” UTD President Karen Aronowitz said.   

The STAR plan forces a bonus system on all instructional personnel.  The top 25% will receive a 5% bonus, which newly-elected Governor Charlie Crist recently announced he wants raised to 10%.  Every teacher’s rating is based 20% on evaluation and 80% on FCAT or other standardized testing.  

The impasse declared by the District and agreed upon by UTD’s team sets into motion a mechanism under Florida Statutes for resolution of this deadlock.  

First, the dispute will be placed before a special magistrate who issues a non-binding recommendation.  UTD fought to waive this step, but the District disagreed.  Second, the dispute will go in front of the Miami-Dade School Board.  The Board will then vote on its position on whether to reject or accept the Master’s recommendation. 

Finally, after the School Board votes, the matter must then be voted upon by the UTD bargaining unit. If the Board’s vote is turned down by UTD, then the Board’s last position will be imposed on the Bargaining Unit under Florida law.  

UTD is fighting this misguided STAR merit pay plan on every level.  We have filed suit, we are lobbying in Tallahassee, and we are at impasse at the bargaining table.  “Most importantly, we are surveying the UTD membership so we can stay united in fighting this fiasco,” Aronowitz said.   

The Special Magistrate hearing will be scheduled for mid-February.  As a result, if the impasse process is not finalized by March 1^st, MDCPS lose all of the $19.6 million to other counties with DOE approved plans.  The parties agreed to an expedited impasse schedule in order to meet the March 1^st deadline.