Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Teacher Bargaining topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teachers press board for higher raises, transparency ahead of scheduled bargaining meeting
Summary
Union leaders and teachers urged the school board to offer a larger salary proposal than the 1.6% the district had circulated, and demanded transparent financial data ahead of bargaining set for March 13. No formal board action was taken.
Teachers, union leaders and parents used the March 12 meeting to press the Alachua County School Board for a more substantial salary proposal and for clearer, transparent financial information ahead of scheduled bargaining.
Carmen Ward, identified as ACA president, told the board the union expects to begin bargaining the following day at 4:30 p.m. and urged the board to present a salary proposal. "We have a lot of union members in the room," Ward said, and she asked the board to show respect at the bargaining table. Crystal Tessman, ACA service unit director, asked eligible employees to join the union and said bargaining-related member outreach was underway.
Multiple teachers and community members described the district's 1.6% pay offer as insufficient. Teacher Gina Rivera told the board the district must produce supporting financial data: "You keep telling us that the budget is not there for raises above a 1.6%. ... Can we see those?" Several speakers said teacher morale is low, district teacher vacancies are visible (speakers referenced 36 teacher openings), and staff are considering work outside the district.
The board and staff did not vote on compensation at the meeting. Superintendent Patton and other staff thanked teachers for their work and noted upcoming meetings. Board members repeatedly told speakers they expected bargaining discussions to proceed the next day; several urged transparency and timely release of financial information to the union and public.
What was not decided: No change to the 1.6% proposal was adopted on March 12. The bargaining session scheduled for March 13 remains the formal venue for negotiations.
Next steps: The union said bargaining would begin March 13; teachers said they would continue public pressure until they received a proposal and the district provided financial details they requested.
