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Teachers, union and parents press Polk board for raises and safety changes amid 450 substitute assignments
Summary
Dozens of teachers and union representatives urged the Polk County School Board to address retention and safety immediately — including a 2.5% pay proposal at bargaining and a proposed policy to remove violent students for the rest of the school day — citing roughly 447 vacancies and 450 substitute assignments.
Dozens of teachers, union leaders and school staff used the Nov. 18 public-comment period to press the Polk County School Board for urgent action on pay, staffing and student safety.
Stephanie Yoakam, president of the Polk Education Association, urged the district to accept a 2.5% across-the-board salary increase at upcoming bargaining sessions and argued that the district can find the funds: "You have the money within your budget to do it," she said, adding that many Central Florida districts have settled for 2.5–4% raises.
Multiple classroom teachers described the staffing strain. "We have 450…
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