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Parents and volunteers urge sustainable raises, warn bonus is insufficient for teachers
Summary
A parent and active volunteer told the Osceola County School Board on May 27 that one-time bonuses do not address long-term teacher compensation issues and called for sustainable raises and better pay for paraprofessionals and support staff.
During public comment at the May 27 School Board of Osceola County meeting, Jacqueline Cruz, a volunteer at Michigan Avenue Elementary, urged the district to provide lasting salary increases for teachers and support staff rather than one-time bonuses.
Cruz said the average teacher salary in the district is just over $50,000 while local housing and cost-of-living pressures persist. She noted teachers are taking second jobs and often pay for classroom supplies out of pocket. Cruz said a $2,000 bonus awarded in 2024 yielded an approximate total compensation increase of 8.7% that year but argued that bonuses do not solve long-term wage problems.
“Passion alone does not pay the bills,” Cruz said. “Our teachers deserve sustainable raises, genuine wage increases that keep pace with the rising cost of living.”
She also called attention to paraprofessionals, administrators, custodial and cafeteria staff and said those employees also deserve recognition and compensation. Cruz said the district should advocate at the state level and promised to support broader advocacy for sustainable teacher pay.
The board did not take immediate action during the meeting in response to the public comment; the remarks were part of the public-comment portion of the agenda.
