[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6384344,"mediaKeyId","2122705-57b6228a4939b208e435f6ea27e48814","parentId",2122705,"title","Columbia High senior Nathan Shung named Columbia County’s 2025 Sunshine State Scholar","audioSeconds",143,"startMs",1409000,"endMs",1552000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2122705-57b6228a4939b208e435f6ea27e48814&start=1409&end=1552","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2122705-57b6228a4939b208e435f6ea27e48814/thumbnail_1409000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6384344/Florida/Columbia-High-senior-Nathan-Shung-named-Columbia-Countys-2025-Sunshine-State-Scholar","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384344-180b88996958c763e68714dafbd41317/orig.mp4?Expires=1775408938&Signature=MpAOIIidMAArsG9UZqjHBvQE0LIcI1fK~w3wGBge3pEMUT35yM3cLIrzAYj4lYsGrB2BDRD-5FE8iCtFuakJjiwVf2jDxdtP2Is2RO3-gcL5Mhje5rt5TQfMhZ6~w1wbCHy5p2qcDbUI9P7ZtUugB5No9b~TaR54d3scTETJU8uUpt9i9DYhpWIkDBNNmpd58duuoPXy-rMQm3EylFVU4N7OoKsgm1KMKzFiegw1-gEoNeJhiMSOTmnmncXY~P8E2PXyaLnKVe2kwCMZDTwt~WXXcmzuZ1gZ8QNAOeEz5ZoRGrCYDVZPAWNINimRsxlz46hkvaR~TUDW51OxjqehOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbia County School Board","date","2025-01-15T13:11:38Z","article","The Columbia County School District recognized Columbia High School senior Nathan Shung as the district’s 2025 Sunshine State Scholar.

A representative of the district’s Instructional Services department outlined the state selection criteria for Sunshine State Scholars — juniors with strong records in STEM who meet minimum GPA and community-service thresholds and who are interested in attending college in Florida — and said district nominees must meet state minimums for consideration. The presenter said the district’s selected scholar exceeded those minimums.

According to the district speaker, Nathan Shung has a 4.0 weighted grade-point average, is taking AP and dual-enrollment courses, is currently ranked first in his class and is a candidate for valedictorian of the Class of 2026. The presenter said Shung has logged more than 240 community-service hours, including roughly 200 hours at the VA Medical Center.

Board members and the superintendent congratulated Shung. Board member Miss Hill said she was proud of the student’s accomplishment and the district’s STEM successes.

Ending: The recognition included an invitation for Shung and his family to attend a statewide recognition event this spring where students meet college representatives and receive district and state recognition.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbia County School Board Meeting - January 14, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","Columbia County recognized Nathan Shung of Columbia High School as the district’s 2025 Sunshine State Scholar for academic achievement in STEM, citing a 4.0 GPA, extensive community service and AP/dual-enrollment coursework.","taxTitle","Columbia, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14618,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6384348,"Votes at a glance: Board adopts agenda, personnel items, science instructional materials and consent agenda",367,1380000,1747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2122705-57b6228a4939b208e435f6ea27e48814&start=1380&end=1747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2122705-57b6228a4939b208e435f6ea27e48814/thumbnail_1380000.jpg","/articles/6384348/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Board-adopts-agenda-personnel-items-science-instructional-materials-and-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384348-1a0c313b077cb7f36b4beacb22aca923/orig.mp4?Expires=1775408938&Signature=o9cVg3jcy8aMyJITqDwGJcDpat47LMzKkA6uBb3UJ2fNLj9-1x9ERZkoO2~Poej1aHM~C2tAjQh-3~pyyvV3v7f8rPKcz1dm8LCTeV8-1geG~GKI85bSIs95uNjLZi9LYOjkRBksBkpOELwqDxfjQvc-xiNX4mfc~QhR~INShIbGOtnjBdCy7YbXGKJLyPgSVjw9NUUIt87CD18-qH2AvOm~ONtbP-6jnGhGNfdQn2ZN9P5QPw-wqIb-FNP1mBn-oxnSyx5TQUldaZ9D~SubUcc0Rl8Rq-vkjA5LUOvjrirtCPhrGBAI-bRFcglueUMZel8A~R4Ee4Ba~KxCH5sd6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County School Board took a series of routine actions early in its meeting, adopting the meeting agenda with the addendum and approving personnel matters, the district science instructional material plan and the consent agenda.

The board first closed the public hearing and adopted the meeting agenda (including the addendum) by voice vote. A motion to adopt the agenda was made and seconded; the chair called for the ayes and the motion carried.

Separately, the board approved personnel items listed on the agenda and addendum. A motion to approve the personnel slate was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

The board then moved to accept the science instructional material plan; the motion to approve the plan was made, seconded and carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tally provided in the transcript.

Finally, the board approved the consent agenda (including addendum items) by voice vote.

Votes and motions (recorded in transcript):
- Motion: Close and adopt the agenda with items on the addendum. Mover/second: not specified in verbal record. Outcome: carried (voice vote; “the ayes have it”).
- Motion: Approve personnel items on the agenda and addendum. Mover: not specified. Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Motion: Accept science instructional material plan. Mover/second: not specified. Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Motion: Approve consent agenda with addendum items. Mover/second: not specified. Outcome: carried (voice vote).

Notes: All votes were voice votes. The transcript records “ayes” and “the ayes have it” for each motion; no roll-call tallies or named vote records appear in the public transcript excerpt.

Ending: The board then moved into public comment, where teacher pay and bargaining dominated remarks.","The Columbia County School Board closed a public hearing, adopted the meeting agenda with addendum and approved personnel items, the district's science instructional material plan and the consent agenda by voice votes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6384353,"Teachers, students and Columbia Teachers Association press board for higher pay",4945,1791000,6736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2122705-57b6228a4939b208e435f6ea27e48814&start=1791&end=6736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2122705-57b6228a4939b208e435f6ea27e48814/thumbnail_1791000.jpg","/articles/6384353/Florida/Teachers-students-and-Columbia-Teachers-Association-press-board-for-higher-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384353-8618333e94221e1d8e0c69466547abd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775408938&Signature=m4wjZdCCBmMBgpOgO1y06rYEpYL694J8zZ9YlnQPvDxuaRwtScYvFJluinDy6qSSbzu1-CJllfXz5lyVsoXp0Job5nFm0Ox146oF54fFwnASto25Vx-jZNOuBbrv4FCyMChgIjoDqzeF07FC1IyVJyHiQDc3tqXkbOoCjjo6b9VtWupsNrgcASafdzqsc7mvvjfXaxjmLBbnjUlwpwGVuBEglYyc0xBoAnYjid4n-03pZ-xCzT2SqnJn7kNvvTckzTW5YA4vWc0SWOqeCrQ9waiq5imkkCcU8xqdgtKPehWA3HGrU~99XTRSHplc6yA1HHLKbSQFkcpO095iiJnZmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of teachers, students and the Columbia Teachers Association urged the Columbia County School Board on Monday to supplement state salary increases with district funds, saying Columbia County teacher pay remains among the lowest in Florida and is driving teacher departures.

The concern dominated the public comment period, where more than two dozen speakers — classroom teachers, students and the CTA president — addressed the board. Dr. Teney Delaney, president of the Columbia Teachers Association, told the board, “The money that has been offered so far is not respectable.” She said the district has offered only what state law requires and that TSIA and state funds were intended to supplement, not replace, local investment in teacher salaries.

Teachers described working multiple jobs, spending personal funds on classroom supplies, and staying long past contract hours. Jo Reagan, a Fort White Elementary teacher of 34½ years, asked rhetorically, “Would you find that offensive if you were in my shoes?” and said the district’s bargaining offer — a small per-person increase beyond state requirements — felt insulting. Several teachers and students cited recruitment and retention problems caused by low pay and compared local starting pay unfavorably to neighboring counties.

Why it matters: Speakers argued pay affects classroom stability and student outcomes. Michael Reynolds, citing Florida Department of Education data, said Columbia County’s average teacher salary ranked 53rd of 67 counties in 2023–24, placing teachers near the 21st percentile statewide while many administrative roles rank substantially higher.

Board members acknowledged the remarks. Board member Miss Hill said, as a former teacher, “we are listening,” and several board members thanked speakers for their passion, while noting legal constraints on what they could say during the meeting.

What speakers asked for:
- District investment from the general fund to supplement state-provided increases and TSIA (Teacher Salary Increase Allocation) dollars.
- Greater transparency in budgeting and bargaining, including timely responses to CTA negotiation requests.
- A meaningful raise that moves Columbia toward competitive starting salaries cited by speakers (figures discussed during comments included a local target of about $47,005 and an identified current starting salary figure cited by speakers as $45,275).

During comments, CTA representatives presented a summary of the district’s October financial report and highlighted object-code variances they said showed capacity to reallocate funds toward instructional salaries. CTA asked that district leaders meet with bargaining representatives for a deeper budget review; speakers said CTA had been denied a full financial workshop this year.

Voices from students and retirees added urgency. Columbia High senior Caroline Sawyer described teacher pay as “a crucial investment in our collective future,” and several students described class disruptions after teachers left for higher-paying opportunities. Multiple speakers offered specific examples of teachers paying for program fees or supplies out of pocket.

District and next steps: Superintendent Cooley and board members thanked commenters and said they were listening. No budget decision or formal board action on teacher compensation occurred during the meeting; several speakers urged the board to take up salary adjustments during upcoming budget deliberations and bargaining sessions.

Ending: The board did not vote on additional salary funding at this meeting. CTA and district negotiators were identified repeatedly in public comments as the forum for resolving compensation questions, and speakers asked the board to prioritize teacher pay in forthcoming budget decisions and bargaining sessions.","Dozens of teachers, students and the Columbia Teachers Association urged the Columbia County School Board to increase district salary funding beyond state-mandated increases, arguing current pay ranks near the bottom in Florida and is driving turnover.","actionData","errors"]

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Columbia High senior Nathan Shung named Columbia County’s 2025 Sunshine State Scholar

Votes at a glance: Board adopts agenda, personnel items, science instructional materials and consent agenda

Teachers, students and Columbia Teachers Association press board for higher pay