Collier County Public Schools has reached an agreement with its sports officials for the upcoming season.

The Greater Naples Officials Association agreed to terms with school district administrators Wednesday afternoon, GNOA president Robb Mackett told the Naples Daily News.

Mark Rosenbalm, coordinator of interscholastic athletics for CCPS, confirmed. The sides agreed to a one-year contract.

“We have come to terms,” Rosenbalm said. “I knew we would. We have a great relationship with GNOA. We’re happy to have it finalized.”

The contract will pay the officials the maximum rate allowed by the Florida High School Athletic Association. Fall practices began in the state Monday and teams can play their first games Sept. 4.

The agreement will not become official until the school board approves the contracts at their Sept. 8 meeting. Collier public schools won’t begin athletic practices until Aug. 31, and games won’t be played until the week of Sept. 8 for all sports but football, which starts Sept. 17.

“I know how much (school district officials) appreciate the GNOA, and we’re comfortable with the relationship we have with them,” Mackett said. “We’re happy to be back out there.”

The GNOA already had contracts in place to officiate private school games in Collier County.

In May, public school officials in Collier and Lee counties expressed concern about paying sports officials the raises the FHSAA approved this spring. The raises are significant – up to $33 (42.3 percent) more per football official – and schools are facing shortfalls in their athletic budgets because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials wages were a topic of debate at the start of last preseason when the South Gulf Football Officials Association, which officiates Lee County football games, performed a work stoppage to protest their lack of a pay raise in six years.

On Wednesday evening, SGFOA president John Mantica said his group does not have an agreement with Lee County Schools for the upcoming season. Lee public school football teams are set to play their first games Sept. 18.

Some private schools will host football games Sept. 4, including Bishop Verot in Fort Myers. LaBelle High, a public school in Hendry County, also will play a home football game Sept. 4. The SGFOA covers both schools and has contracts with them to work games this season.

The work stoppage caused several preseason games in Lee County to be canceled last season because of a lack of officials.

Last year GNOA members agreed to work only because Collier school officials promised a raise for the 2020-21 school year. Rosenbalm said he’s always been committed to paying officials the maximum FHSAA rate. The only negotiations were on the scheduling and administrative fees the GNOA charges the schools.