Board approves staffing allocation manual after union warns vote could be illegal

The Alachua County School Board on May 6 approved a new staffing allocation manual and related calendar changes intended to reduce district spending, voting 4–1 with board member Vu dissenting.

The manual lays out new allocations, reduced calendars and hours for some positions, and district-level cuts district leaders said were needed to close an expected budget shortfall next fiscal year.

The teachers’ bargaining agent, the Alachua County Education Association (ACA), told the board before the vote that parts of the district’s plan — including converting certain 12‑month positions to 11‑month posts and reducing ESP work hours — could not lawfully be imposed without bargaining. Dr. Tessman, ACA service‑unit director and vice president of instructional, told the board, “It will be illegal for the school board to move forward with the following items without first negotiating with ACA, the bargaining agent certified by the state of Florida for most district employees.”

Why it matters: The district projects a large fiscal shortfall and says it must reduce spending to preserve core services. The allocation manual changes how staff are assigned and how some staff are paid, which directly affects employees’ hours, calendars and pay; ACA says some of those changes are mandatory subjects of bargaining under Florida law.

What the board and district said District staff and Superintendent Patton told the board the manual is an attempt to balance cuts across the district while keeping as many people employed as possible. Patton and budget staff said the district faces a projected general‑fund shortfall of roughly $18–$20 million for 2025–26 and has already removed about $4 million in district positions and about $8 million in school‑level reductions, in addition to other cuts. Patton emphasized the manual is intended to reduce costs while preserving programs that the community values.

ACA objections and legal questions ACA’s written and oral comments identified specific categories — including assistant senior clerical, guidance clerks, student services specialists and paraeducator categories — that the union said were in bargaining units and could not be altered unilaterally. ACA cited state bargaining law (referencing Florida Statute 447.309 in its presentation) and a string of court decisions it said support that position. The union asked the board to remove disputed items from the agenda until bargaining had occurred.

Board and legal response Board attorney Mr. Delaney and the superintendent said they had received ACA’s letter late and that the district remained willing to negotiate. Delaney told the board the district had not completed a reduction in force and wanted the process to proceed legally and smoothly. In public comment, ACA warned the board again that moving forward without bargaining could lead to litigation.

Formal action The board voted to approve the staffing allocation manual (motion carried 4–1, Mr. Vu dissenting). The manual includes: standardized hours and calendars for many positions; revised allocations for elementary, middle and high schools; and a schedule showing which positions would change from 12‑month to shorter calendars. School‑based reductions were described by staff as a mix of eliminated positions and calendar/hour reductions intended to save money while preserving essential services.

What the changes mean on the ground District staff said some district positions would be eliminated outright (district staff estimated roughly $4 million in eliminated positions), while schools would see position and hours reductions totaling roughly $8 million. Several speakers, including teachers and parents in public comment, said cuts to media aides, database clerks and assistant principals would reduce services and increase workloads for remaining staff. Board members pressed staff for clarity on which positions and how many jobs would be affected; staff said they would provide more detailed position lists and continue the budget process.

Next steps District staff said they will continue to meet with ACA and other stakeholders about implementation and legal obligations. The board’s vote will allow the district to use the manual as its allocation guide while staff finalize the list of district positions being eliminated and the timelines for calendar and hours changes.

Ending The vote completes a contentious step in a budget process board members said is forced by larger funding trends in the state. Board members and union leaders said they expect further negotiations and, if necessary, legal action to clarify which changes require bargaining.