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Public commenters press Miami‑Dade board on teacher pay, housing, classroom phones, mold at iPrep and 'colocation' rules
Summary
At the Nov. 19 public hearing, teachers, union leaders and parents urged action on teacher pay and health care, requested classroom phones and clearer procedures on mold remediation at iPrep, and warned the board about colocation/Schools of Hope policies that could place charter operators inside public school buildings.
During the public‑comment portion of the Nov. 19 meeting, dozens of speakers raised a mix of operational and policy concerns for the school board.
United Teachers of Dade President Antonio White and UTD officers summarized a recently negotiated tentative contract for 2025–26, described difficult bargaining conditions, and urged continued advocacy in Tallahassee for greater state investment. UTD leaders said referendum funds helped avoid an impasse but underscored that state increases have lagged the cost of living.
Teachers and parents asked the district to ensure teachers have private, reliable classroom phone access. "Teachers often need to make private phone calls to parents or child service agencies... Without a classroom phone, this becomes a challenge," one teacher told the board, noting limitations of district emergency systems and low participation in a district smartphone app.
Parents from iPrep raised health concerns after visible mold was removed from classrooms, requesting specifics about HVAC testing, remediation timelines and interim measures to protect students while any remediation proceeds. Superintendent José El Dautres directed staff to follow up with the parent and provide additional information.
Several speakers urged the board to oppose or more closely scrutinize colocation provisions under the State 'Schools of Hope' program and related laws, arguing colocating charter operators inside public schools can strain district services and create dual accountability systems. One speaker asked the board to advocate for repeal or to demand a full impact analysis before further expansion of colocations.
Speakers also suggested non‑technical items: one public speaker proposed adding "empathy" as a district core value. Board members committed to staff follow‑up on requests where appropriate and recorded the public comments in the meeting minutes.
