Teachers press board for higher pay as bargaining and a job-classification change draw scrutiny

Dozens of teachers and a union representative told the Leon County School Board on Dec. 10 that current pay and benefits make it difficult to afford housing and basic expenses, and urged the board to prioritize salary increases.

The comments came as the board handled several personnel- and contract-related agenda items, including two tentative collective-bargaining agreements that were pulled from the agenda and a separate discussion about revising a classification specification for a construction/maintenance project manager that staff said could carry a later $89,100 fiscal impact if reclassification is approved.

The teachers’ concerns were repeatedly framed around classroom impact and retention. Scott Mazer, speaking for the Leon Classroom Teachers Association, said the union supports following the agreed process but asked that the board weigh effects on students and staff when decisions return to the dais. “As the process takes place, we’ll have a third party who goes ahead and gives a determination,” Mazer said. “But in the meantime … our goal is to make sure that we do the best by the people that are in the classroom.”

Individual teachers described concrete strains. Caitlin Anderson, a classroom teacher and recent graduate, said she works multiple jobs to make ends meet: “I have to DoorDash,” she said. Other speakers described working weekends and summers, living paycheck to paycheck, and foregoing sick leave and savings to stay employed. Several speakers said Leon County pay lags neighboring states and counties.

Board action and process. The superintendent’s recommended advertising of an amendment to policy 1600 (classification specifications) initially moved forward on the agenda, but board members questioned a dollar figure shown in the meeting paperwork. Staff clarified that the agenda item as presented was meant only to update a class specification and that any fiscal impact would be presented as a separate reclassification item later.

Board members then moved to reconsider the item so the paperwork and public record could be clarified. A subsequent motion to approve the classification change “without the financial verbiage” failed, leaving the classification matter unresolved and set to return to the board later with clearer documentation and the separate fiscal item if staff pursue a reclassification. During the discussion staff said the reclassification—if pursued—would carry an $89,100 fiscal cost; board members requested a position-description comparison be provided before any approval of fiscal changes.

Other business and votes. Two tentative bargaining items were pulled from the agenda for further review: (1) the tentative agreement for 2021–2024 between Local 1010, District Council 78, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Local 1010 and the Leon County School Board; and (2) the tentative agreement for 2022–2025 between the Leon County Staff Professional Association (LESPA) and the Leon County School Board. The board approved several routine consent items and amendments elsewhere on the agenda, passed an amendment to policy 5517 (anti‑harassment) effective Dec. 11, 2024, and approved calendar changes; those votes were recorded as unanimous where noted on the record.

What happens next. Board members asked staff to return the classification proposal with clearer documentation showing the current and proposed duties (a position-description comparison) and with any fiscal impact presented as a separate, later action. The pulled bargaining items will remain off the consent track while staff and negotiators continue work.

Votes at a glance • Changes and additions to the Dec. 10, 2024 business meeting (approval of agenda changes): passed unanimously. • Policy 5517 (anti‑harassment) — amendment approval following public hearing, effective Dec. 11, 2024: passed unanimously. • Amendment to policy 1600 (classification specifications) — advertising/public hearing: initial administrative motion passed, then board reconsidered; a motion to approve the class-specification change without fiscal verbiage failed; staff will return with clarified documentation before any fiscal reclassification action. • Tentative collective-bargaining agreements (Local 1010 and LESPA): pulled from the agenda; no board action taken. • Consent agenda items and calendar amendments (item 19.07): passed unanimously.

Ending: Board members and staff said they will bring clearer documentation and any fiscal proposals back to a future meeting, and several board members asked the superintendent and staff to prioritize transparent budgeting and comparisons ahead of any action affecting pay or reclassification.