School board approves letters of understanding on teacher pay, health coverage and compensation for 2025-26

St. Lucie County School Board members on Sept. 23 approved multiple letters of understanding covering distribution of the state teacher salary increase, health insurance and compensation for the 2025-26 school year.

Superintendent Doctor Prince recommended the board approve a letter of understanding between St. Lucie Public Schools and the Education Association of St. Lucie Classroom Teachers Association regarding distribution of funds the state allocated for teacher salary increases for the 2025-26 school year. “All children are capable of success. No exceptions,” Doctor Prince said while explaining the administration’s priorities and thanking union partners for negotiating collaboratively. Board member Mr. Ingersoll moved the recommendation and Ms. Holly seconded; the motion carried 4-0 as recorded.

The board then approved a series of additional letters of understanding presented by the superintendent: a health-insurance agreement for the 2025-26 school year; a health-insurance LOU with the Communication Workers of America Local 3181; an agreement addressing referendum and recruitment supplements with the Education Association of St. Lucie Classroom Teachers Association; a teacher compensation LOU with ESOLCTA; and a compensation LOU covering EASL, CU and ProTech. Those motions were moved and seconded as announced and were recorded as carrying by unanimous votes (tallies noted in the meeting minutes: 4-0 or 5-0 where stated).

The superintendent said the letter related to state teacher-salary allocation was on the agenda because the district must submit required paperwork to the state by Oct. 1. He thanked union leaders and district negotiators for collaborative work and said health-insurance terms had been agreed by the parties except for final items still under negotiation with CWA.

After the votes the board adjourned the special meeting and opened the Sept. 23 workshop session.

Decisions and vote tallies reported at the meeting: the board approved the superintendent’s recommendations for each letter of understanding listed on the special-meeting agenda; motions were moved and seconded as recorded in the meeting transcript and carried unanimously as stated.