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 the unit reported a membership vote of 730 yes to 279 no; Superintendent Doctor Patton recommended the board ratify the ESP agreement and the board approved the ratification unanimously. The board also voted unanimously to adopt the 2024–25 salary schedule for ESPs and professional technical staff.

Teachers and advocates told the board the district’s 1.6% offer for instructional personnel is inadequate. Katie Taber Olenski, a second‑year teacher at Wiles Elementary, said, “1.6% is too small a difference for teams of educated professionals,” and urged the board to “treat us with respect.” Gina Rivera asked the board to return a 2.7% offer that she said would match national inflation for 2024.

Speakers said the loss of most early‑release Wednesdays last year removed essential planning, IEP and parent‑conference time. “More instructional time means nothing if it causes the teachers to be burnt out, to be demoralized, or to leave the profession completely,” said Danielle Englehorn, a third‑grade teacher at Parker Elementary.

Board members and the superintendent told the room the district faces constrained finances and that some budget details — including the official Calc 3 state allocation — were still pending from the Florida Department of Education. Attorney Delaney and district staff reminded the board and public that a previously negotiated memo of understanding about early‑release Wednesdays remains in effect until instructional bargaining returns to the table and a final collective‑bargaining agreement is ratified.

Several board members acknowledged teachers’ frustration and committed to increased transparency on budget figures. Superintendent Doctor Patton said staff would prepare a clear presentation of assigned and unassigned fund balances for the board and public once state calculations arrive.

The meeting included several student and community speakers who urged the board to accept responsibility for past budget choices. Student speaker Oliver Flanagan said the board should “admit that they failed” and pledged community engagement going forward.

The board did not vote on any instructional contract at the meeting. It approved the ESP ratification and ESP salary schedule and directed staff to continue bargaining with instructional representatives. Attorney Delaney clarified that, because the instructional contract was not ratified, the MOU covering early‑release Wednesdays remains in place and bargaining must resume.

The board accepted a public request to present the internal auditor’s recent work plan and audit results at a future meeting and several members asked staff to schedule a workshop dedicated to budget transparency and possible reallocation options.

The public comment period lasted through the weather‑shortened session, with multiple speakers pressing the board for clearer answers on how district funds could be redirected toward teacher pay.