After months of protests, discussions and a virtual standoff, the United Teachers of Dade announced on Wednesday a tentative contract agreement for Miami-Dade teachers.

The UTD and the Miami-Dade County School Board will vote on whether to ratify the agreement during the last week of November before it will be official.

Full UTD News Release

"UTD President Karen Aronowitz and Superintendent Rudy Crew reached a tentative agreement on a landmark three-year contract that contains increases in salary for teachers that not only match but surpass Broward County during the term of the contract. Salaries for beginning teachers will reach $40,000 during the 2008-2009 school year. All teachers and support personnel will see annual step increases combined with increased salary schedules over the next three years. Salary increases for office personnel and paraprofessionals reached new heights as well.

"A simple handshake between Aronowitz and Crew marked the end to a protracted nine months of bargaining, where negotiators from the United Teachers of Dade and Miami-Dade County Public Schools struggled over salary increases as well as the working conditions.

"'We fought long and hard to make salaries for teachers and support personnel competitive with surrounding districts and we were successful," said UTD President and Chief Negotiator Karen Aronowitz. "The school district and the community also are winners because we will be able to retain a high quality staff and again be in a position to attract new teachers to Miami-Dade. We made sure that all teachers, including our most experienced, were recognized in this contract."

"This was Aronowitz?s first full contract negotiation with the district since becoming president of the union one and a half years ago.

"In addition to substantial improvements in salary, teachers and other school employees will be able to maintain 100 percent employer-funded health insurance, while the cost of prescription drugs and dependent care will actually decrease.

"'Holding the line on health-care costs should not be underestimated,' said Aronowitz. 'In many workplaces salary increases are being wiped-out by rising out-of-pocket health care premiums, but not here. Our raises are real.'"

During the term of this landmark contract:

The highest salary package in the district?s history.

Starting teacher?s salary increases from $34,200 to $40,000 (not including additional pay for advanced degrees, supplements and School Improvement Zone assignments).

The most experienced teacher salary increases to $68,225 (not including additional pay for advanced degrees, supplements and School Improvement Zone assignments).

Teachers? compensation package (salary and insurance) will immediately meet or exceed neighboring Broward County.

For the first time ever, teachers will get their step raises automatically over three years, instead of bargaining one year at a time.

For the first time, teachers will be able to climb to the top of the 22-step scale faster (up to 3 years sooner).

Teachers and education support professionals will receive enhanced tuition reimbursement for college classes.

Paraprofessionals, office clerical and school support personnel will receive higher raises than they received over past contracts.

Paraprofessional, office clerical and school support personnel and security monitors will climb to the top of their salary schedules faster.

Teachers will receive increases on their credential and supplement pay in 2008.

All UTD bargaining unit employees will continue to enjoy 100 percent employer-funded Point-of-Service (POS) health insurance.

All dependent health insurance costs will either be lowered or remain the same. There will be no increase in insurance costs for the fourth year in a row for UTD bargaining unit employees.

Prescription drug co-payment costs will be significantly lower (by as much as 50 percent for certain chronic disease maintenance medications).

Elementary teachers will receive a guaranteed five hours of planning time for grading papers and preparing classroom activities to help their students.

Voluntary transfer requests made by teachers can no longer be blocked by principals, and once approved, the transfer is guaranteed."

Full details of the contract will be available on the UTD website at www.utd.org.