Teachers, students and union press board as bargaining stalls over raises

Chair Rockwell and the Alachua County School Board heard sharp public appeals on teacher pay during the meeting, with union leaders and classroom teachers urging a larger settlement in ongoing bargaining with the district.

Carmen Ward, president of the Alachua County Education Association, told the board the union had “put a 3.5% proposal on the table” in response to what she described as a 1% offer from the district’s bargaining team. She said the union would continue to press for higher pay and urged union members to mobilize for local advocacy events.

The meeting included multiple public comments from teachers and students calling for higher pay. Oliver Flanagan, a 17-year-old student at Santa Fe High School, criticized the board and district negotiators for reducing an earlier offer, asked “where did the money go?” and warned that teacher departures would harm student success. Jade McKillop, a junior at Santa Fe High School, called for “a livable wage” so schools can attract and retain “quality teachers.”

Rebecca Reagan, an English teacher at Gainesville High School, told the board…