Alachua County School Board ratifies instructional contract, restores weekly early-release Wednesdays starting May 7

The Alachua County School Board on April 24 unanimously approved the school district’s negotiated amendments to the 2024–2027 collective bargaining agreement for instructional personnel and ratified the 2024–25 compensation package, clearing the way for raises and the reinstatement of weekly early-release Wednesdays beginning May 7, 2025.

The ratification matters because it finalizes pay and schedule changes that affect the district’s instructional staff and starts district payroll processes to deliver retroactive raises. The board’s vote followed a union ratification held April 23, when the bargaining unit approved the agreement 1,153 to 158, an 88% approval rate.

District negotiator Mr. Shelnut told the board that the Alachua County Education Association and the district bargaining teams had been negotiating for more than a year and reached a tentative agreement April 14. He reported the union ratification numbers and asked the board to complete the process by voting to approve the negotiated contract and the 2024–25 compensation package.

Carmen Ward, representing the Alachua County Education Association, told the board the bargaining unit’s vote was an endorsement of the deal and urged ratification so bargaining can move on to the 2025–26 contract. "We are very much hoping that it is ratified today so that we can move on to 2526 negotiations," Ward said.

Board members praised the bargaining teams and acknowledged broader fiscal pressures. Chair Dr. Rockwell said she was "extremely pleased that we've reached an agreement" but apologized for what she called "some poor decision making and mismanagement" in earlier years and said the district must make difficult changes on facilities and staffing to respond to enrollment shifts and other budget challenges.

The motion to ratify the negotiated agreement and the compensation package was moved by Mr. Vu and seconded by Dr. McNeely. The board conducted a roll-call vote because one member, Ms. Plavec, was absent and Ms. Surdon joined by Zoom. The recorded votes were Mr. Vu — yes; Dr. McNeely — yes; Ms. Surdon (via Zoom) — yes; Chair Dr. Rockwell — yes. The motion carried 4–0 with one absent member.

Superintendent Patton said administrators will execute the implementation steps immediately, including payroll work to process retroactive pay. District staff named in the meeting to support that work include staff in position control and payroll; Mr. Shelnut specifically thanked those staff for preparing to process retroactive raises. Patton said the district will begin weekly early-release Wednesdays on May 7 and that memos and implementation steps from central staff would follow.

Board members and negotiators thanked members of both bargaining teams and district administrators who supported the lengthy negotiations. Several board members said they view the agreement as a necessary step to stabilize staffing and proceed to next year’s bargaining, while also noting that future difficult decisions about facilities and allocations may be required.

Votes at a glance Motion: "Ratify the negotiated agreement between the school board and the Alachua County Education Association for instructional personnel (2024–2027) and ratify the 2024–25 compensation package for instructional personnel as presented." Moved: Mr. Vu. Second: Dr. McNeely. Outcome: approved 4–0; Ms. Plavec absent.

Next steps: Central staff will circulate memos and begin payroll processing; early-release Wednesdays will begin May 7, 2025.