The bus drivers, cafeteria workers, security guards, and custodians who keep Steinbrenner High School and Lutz K-8 running will have their wages and working conditions on the table Friday, July 31, when Hillsborough County Public Schools sits down with their union.

HCPS and the Hillsborough School Employees Federation will hold a contract negotiation session at 1 p.m. at the HSEF office, 5126 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, according to the district. The session is open to the public.

The timing is tight. The first day of the 2026-27 school year is Monday, Aug. 10, just 10 days after the bargaining session.

Who HSEF represents

HSEF bargains on behalf of instructional support employees across four categories: transportation, student nutrition services, security, and custodial services. That includes the workers who drive Lutz-area bus routes, serve meals at Steinbrenner High, monitor campus safety, and maintain school buildings.

Millage referendum funds

Voters approved a millage referendum in November 2024 that generates approximately $177 million annually for HCPS. Ninety-two percent of that money is dedicated to teacher and staff compensation. Under the referendum, all HCPS employees receive an annual adjustment of $3,000 or $6,000, depending on their position, according to district materials.

How that supplement interacts with the base contract being negotiated Friday has not been disclosed. The district's announcement did not detail specific wage proposals or sticking points.

What happened last year

In September 2025, HCPS and its unions reached a tentative pay deal that required ratification by employees and the school board, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The July 31 session opens bargaining for the 2026-27 contract year.

What comes next

The next Hillsborough County School Board meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. at 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. That meeting could be the earliest opportunity for the board to ratify any agreement reached Friday, six days before students return to class.