The Osceola County School Board approved a negotiated agreement with teachers and education support professionals (ESPs) on Sept. 9, following an executive bargaining session and public comment from union leaders.

The contract approval vote (agenda item 15.01) passed after a motion by Besaida Garcia and a second by Paula Bronson. The board recorded the motion as approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: the agreement affects pay, working conditions and non‑wage benefits for classroom teachers and ESPs across the district. Several board members described “small wins” that they said were achieved without large budget increases.

Union turnout and ratification: Janet Moody, president of the Osceola County Education Association, told the board the bargaining units had high participation and strong approval. Moody initially cited participation and approval figures and later corrected the tally in public comment: “Our vote was 87% with both units, not 77,” she said, referring to the combined ratification numbers the union reported.

Board and contract highlights: Board member Paula Bronson, who led bargaining for the board’s side, described three concessions she said were part of the agreement: eliminating professional learning community meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month to return planning time to teachers; adding two paid half‑days for health‑center appointments under the wellness plan; and removing mandatory after‑school conferences. Bronson framed those steps as giving teachers time and respect amid a constrained budget.

Budget context: other board members noted the district’s constrained budget for the year and said the board used fund balance to preserve staffing and provide a modest raise. One board member said the district had used reserves to provide a 2% pay increase and to add $10 million toward healthcare costs.

Public union comment: Janet Moody praised the district for agreeing to new clinics and said the union will hold the district to a commitment that the clinics open by October 2026. She said educators understood increases in insurance costs were a major reason some members opposed the contracts but that the ratification showed majority approval among members.

What’s next: the board approved the motion and will implement the changes agreed in bargaining; the union and district will monitor clinic openings and the agreed wellness provisions.