Teachers, union and parents press Polk board for raises and safety changes amid 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 substitutes in classrooms and we have 447 vacancies," said one speaker summarizing district numbers echoed during the session; another teacher told the board that long-term substitutes often are not trained to implement Individualized Education Programs, leaving students with disabilities behind.

Dr. Theresa McKay, a second-grade teacher, urged adoption of clearer safety procedures for students who present violent or severely aggressive behavior, saying a student in her class "came at me with a sharpened pencil to stab me" and describing long episodes that halt instruction. She asked the board to enable administrators to remove a student for the remainder of the school day after a major incident so the child could receive appropriate behavioral support and peers could learn in a safe environment.

Speakers also raised pay equity concerns, pointing to larger percentage increases for some senior administrative positions versus modest raises for long-serving classroom teachers. Teacher Diane Dressler said drawn-out contract negotiations have contributed to teacher departures, arguing the district must negotiate with greater urgency because "you need to move now, and you need to address these concerns that staff have now because they will be gone."

Union and classroom voices urged the board to act before the holiday break and asked the district leadership to prioritize retention actions while it pursues a longer-term millage referendum. Several speakers combined direct appeals with personal stories about leaving for better-paying districts or juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet.

Board members acknowledged the concerns and noted bargaining sessions were scheduled; superintendent staff and board leaders said they would continue to engage with the union and bring information back to the board.