Orange County School Board tables change to referendum language after teachers press for raises

The Orange County School Board on May 12 agreed to postpone a final decision on proposed changes to the language of a 1-mill ad valorem referendum after several teachers and community members urged the board to explicitly direct some referendum money to increase teacher and support‑staff pay.

At a public‑comment block, Sandy Thuringer, a community member, urged the board to increase the millage to 1.25 to provide more funding for schools. Greta McMillan, a Riverdale Elementary teacher, described personal financial strain and asked the board to "propose a portion of or all of a 1 mill referendum be used to fund teacher salary." Clinton McCracken of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association told the board that other Florida districts had placed explicit language on their ballots directing referendum dollars to teacher pay and asked Orange County to "include the word increase so that the public clearly understands that part of this referendum should directly increase teacher and classified pay." Yvette Torres, an OCPS reading teacher of 23 years, said she could not support classroom excellence while take‑home pay is shrinking and urged the board to "give teachers a raise that matters."

Board members debated whether inserting the word "increasing" before "teacher and educational support compensation" would lock the district into a different distribution of referendum dollars than the current language, which already funds many positions and programs. Member Vanos noted the district already uses some referendum revenue for compensation and said adding the word would help ensure future boards prioritize pay. Other trustees, including Member Ferrant and Member Bird, warned that promising to "increase" compensation without an offsetting revenue assumption could force cuts to arts, athletics, student activities or positions if state funding does not rise accordingly.

General counsel and staff explained the procedural timetable: the county supervisor of elections needs ballot language soon and the county commission must also place the measure on the November ballot. Because the board asked that the chair and superintendent be present for any final change, trustees voted to table the item and authorized notice for a special meeting (to follow a planned May 19 work session) to continue discussion and, if agreed, finalize language for the county commission.

The vote to table the language was carried by the board with a motion to advertise a special meeting for May 19 so the board, the superintendent and the chair can consider proposed wording and public comment before the county’s filing deadline.

What’s next: The board will revisit the ballot wording at the special meeting and may submit revised language to the county commission for placement on the November ballot. Members said they welcome additional public comment and written input ahead of that session.