Teachers, students and Columbia Teachers Association press board for higher pay

Dozens of teachers, students and the Columbia Teachers Association urged the Columbia County School Board on Monday to supplement state salary increases with district funds, saying Columbia County teacher pay remains among the lowest in Florida and is driving teacher departures.

The concern dominated the public comment period, where more than two dozen speakers — classroom teachers, students and the CTA president — addressed the board. Dr. Teney Delaney, president of the Columbia Teachers Association, told the board, “The money that has been offered so far is not respectable.” She said the district has offered only what state law requires and that TSIA and state funds were intended to supplement, not replace, local investment in teacher salaries.

Teachers described working multiple jobs, spending personal funds on classroom supplies, and staying long past contract hours. Jo Reagan, a Fort White Elementary teacher of 34½ years, asked rhetorically, “Would you find that offensive if you were in my shoes?” and said the district’s bargaining offer — a small per-person increase beyond state requirements — felt insulting. Several teachers and students cited recruitment and retention problems caused by low pay and compared local starting pay unfavorably to neighboring counties.

Why it matters: Speakers argued pay affects classroom stability and student outcomes. Michael Reynolds, citing Florida Department of Education data, said Columbia County’s average teacher salary ranked 53rd of 67 counties in 2023–24, placing teachers near the 21st percentile statewide while many administrative roles rank substantially higher.

Board members acknowledged the remarks. Board member Miss Hill said, as a former teacher, “we are listening,” and several board members thanked speakers for their passion, while noting legal constraints on what they could say during the meeting.

What speakers asked for: - District investment from the general fund to supplement state-provided increases and TSIA (Teacher Salary Increase Allocation) dollars. - Greater transparency in budgeting and bargaining, including timely responses to CTA negotiation requests. - A meaningful raise that moves Columbia toward competitive starting salaries cited by speakers (figures discussed during comments included a local target of about $47,005 and an identified current starting salary figure cited by speakers as $45,275).

During comments, CTA representatives presented a summary of the district’s October financial report and highlighted object-code variances they said showed capacity to reallocate funds toward instructional salaries. CTA asked that district leaders meet with bargaining representatives for a deeper budget review; speakers said CTA had been denied a full financial workshop this year.

Voices from students and retirees added urgency. Columbia High senior Caroline Sawyer described teacher pay as “a crucial investment in our collective future,” and several students described class disruptions after teachers left for higher-paying opportunities. Multiple speakers offered specific examples of teachers paying for program fees or supplies out of pocket.

District and next steps: Superintendent Cooley and board members thanked commenters and said they were listening. No budget decision or formal board action on teacher compensation occurred during the meeting; several speakers urged the board to take up salary adjustments during upcoming budget deliberations and bargaining sessions.

Ending: The board did not vote on additional salary funding at this meeting. CTA and district negotiators were identified repeatedly in public comments as the forum for resolving compensation questions, and speakers asked the board to prioritize teacher pay in forthcoming budget decisions and bargaining sessions.