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Parents, teachers and unions press Duval board on vacancies, pay, class sizes and construction defects
Summary
During the public-comment period, 23 speakers told the Duval County School Board about staff shortages (including 65 SLP vacancies), overcrowded classrooms, pay and benefits concerns, and alleged defects in new school construction that are requiring early maintenance work.
Citizens, district employees and union representatives used the board's public-comment period to press the Duval County School Board for immediate action on staffing, safety and facilities.
Speech-language pathologists told the board they continue to face a vacancy crisis, with one speaker saying 65 positions across 47 campuses remain open and noting a proposed part-time SLP hourly rate of $33.17. Teachers and parents described overcrowded classrooms and, in some new schools, a shortage of desks and cubbies for students.
Payroll and benefits staff described heavy cuts and mandatory overtime in central departments. A payroll technician asked the board to reconsider a 30-cent per-hour step increase, while a payroll employee and a district employee delegation pointed to large administrative raises earlier in the year, including payments described in the meeting as between $1,500 and $15,000 for some administrators and $12,000 to $20,000 for others.
Union speakers from IBEW Local 177 claimed recurring workmanship and warranty problems at newly opened schools and warned that the district is spending money to "fix" contractor work. David Bryant, assistant business manager for IBEW Local 177, said inspectors are approving work that leaves concerns like open electrical boxes and otherwise incomplete trades work; "We're sending them in after contractors who come into our district, who get contracts through this board and don't finish your job," he said.
Teachers and classroom staff also urged the board to adjust supplements and pay scales to retain experienced staff, including a request for a 25% increase to supplements for teachers serving vulnerable populations and for improved hourly rates for paraprofessionals.
What the board heard: The public comments painted a picture of operational stress across multiple departments — from special-education service delivery and payroll to facilities and maintenance — and created pressure on the board and administration to identify near-term fixes and longer-term budget or policy changes.
Next steps: Several board members and the superintendent acknowledged the comments and pointed to follow-up meetings, human-resources work and a forthcoming report from the Council of the Great City Schools on HR practices.
