Alachua teachers reject instructional contract; board ratifies ESP deal amid chants for higher pay

The Alachua County School Board on Jan. 21 faced a steady stream of teachers, parents and students pressing elected members to improve pay after instructional staff rejected a tentative contract offer and voiced frustration over the district's decision to keep early‑release Wednesdays reduced.

The instructional bargaining unit voted to reject the district's package during union balloting last week, public speakers and union leaders said during citizen input; board members were told the vote represented more than 1,000 employees but an exact tally for instructional staff was not provided at the meeting. Carmen Ward, president of the Alachua County Education Association, said the vote failed because “educators are saying do better. They are saying try again.”

The board separately ratified amendments to the 2023–2026 collective bargaining agreement for educational support professionals (ESPs). The district presented the ESP ratification to the board after…