Union president: ratification shows broad teacher support but warns contract protections were contested

Anthony Klutchy, president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, addressed the board during public comment on Oct. 28 to report the results of the union—s ratification vote on the district—s tentative collective bargaining agreement (agenda item F-11).

Klutchy said the ratification vote produced 2,950 yes votes and 183 no votes, for a total of 3,133 valid ballots and "over 94%" support. He thanked the board for budgeting raises and called the agreement "a step in the right direction," but said a 2% annual raise over three years "falls short of what our teachers truly deserve." Klutchy also credited the agreement with improvements including reduced health-care deductibles and guaranteed advanced-degree supplements regardless of certification area.

The speaker warned that, during bargaining, district proposals sought to remove or narrow existing contractual protections. He listed a range of proposed changes the union resisted, saying the district had at times proposed removing comp time for evening events, eliminating flex time for religious holidays, narrowing protections related to hurricane dismissal procedures, reducing flex-hour allowances, limiting protections against involuntary reassignments, requiring routine lesson-plan submissions, and removing certain evaluation language and notice periods for IEP meetings. Klutchy said the union fought to keep each of those protections in place and credited the bargaining team and membership for preserving them.

"Our teachers deserve a better process for this board," Klutchy said, while acknowledging the ratification result and urging continued attention to teacher compensation and workplace protections.

The transcript records the union president—s remarks as public comment; no formal board action on the agreement was recorded during the Oct. 28 meeting minutes included in the transcript.