The Leon Classroom Teachers Association and Leon County School District have finalized an agreement for this year’s state-mandated teacher pay increase, but the deal leaves out a significant portion of educators. This disparity has sparked concerns about teacher retention and compensation equity in Florida’s public school system.
The agreement, signed by July 30, allocates approximately $1.5 million in raises, but only for full-time teachers with at least 10 years of service. This means just 42% of instructional staff will see a pay bump, while the remaining 58% will continue to face financial challenges.
State-Mandated Raises Exclude Majority of Educators
The pay increase, though welcome, represents only a fraction of what educators need. Scott Mazer, president of the Leon Classroom Teachers Association, emphasized the need for a more comprehensive solution: “What we’re trying to do is get a comprehensive salary package put together… so that everyone could be seen as well as the millage increase memorandum of understanding so people understood if you vote for the millage increase, this is what it means for our educators.”
The union and school district have been negotiating a memorandum of understanding for a proposed millage increase, which could provide a path to future pay raises for all instructional staff. Superintendent Rocky Hanna expressed optimism about presenting this agreement to the school board during an executive session on Aug. 10 with the union expected to review it the following day.
Educators Speak Out About Financial Struggles
For many teachers, the issue goes beyond personal compensation. Sarah Flammer, a speech-language pathologist, highlighted the broader implications: “We already have a shortage of individuals coming into our classrooms and staying in our classrooms… We want to be in our schools. We love the kids in our community. But “
During a recent school board meeting, educators voiced their frustrations. Marcy Brower, a teacher, shared, “We are tired, tired of working many jobs to make ends meet, tired of sacrificing our health, family and relationships, tired of signing up for extra roles and responsibilities just to bring home a few extra dollars each month.” Jonah Mundy, another educator, added, “I’m greatly disappointed by the idea of pay raises not being made to teachers. I just want to let y’all know that many, many teachers here are struggling.”
Financial Constraints and Future Hopes
Superintendent Hanna acknowledged the financial constraints facing the district. “No one cares more about our teachers than I do, but I can’t put our district in financial jeopardy by overextending our resources, and unfortunately the state of Florida is not funding public education as it should,” he stated. The state’s allocation of $1.5 million for veteran teachers does not include positions like media specialists, guidance counselors, and school psychologists.
Despite these challenges, the Leon Classroom Teachers Association remains committed to advocating for better pay. Mazer stated, “We’re not stopping. We understand that there may be some limitations, but to just pack up and that’s not what our responsibility is. Our responsibility is to advocate for the educators.” The union is pushing for a local referendum to increase the millage rate, which could significantly improve teacher compensation.
According to the National Education Association, Florida ranks 50th in the country for teacher pay. Leon County currently stands at 44th out of Florida’s 67 counties. If the millage referendum passes, Leon County could move up to 11th in the state for teacher pay, offering hope for a brighter future for educators.
