Members of the Florida Board of Education are considering how to put 鈥減ressure鈥� on local teachers-union leaders and school-board members amid delays in planned salary increases for teachers in some districts.
The state board discussed efforts to distribute money approved by the Legislature, including $800 million earmarked in this year鈥檚 state budget for raising teacher salaries. That money is part of an effort to raise minimum teacher pay to $47,500.
Adam Miller, a senior chancellor with the state Department of Education, said the department has 鈥渇ully approved鈥� salary-distribution plans for 69 school districts, which include county districts and other types of districts. But he pointed to a handful of districts that are either at impasse in negotiations with unions or are in negotiations.
The Hillsborough, St. Johns and Seminole county districts are at impasse, Miller said Meanwhile, the Gadsden County district is negotiating with the teachers鈥� union. Gadsden Superintendent of Schools Elijah Key, Jr., said those negotiations are 鈥渂eing held up鈥� by union leaders.
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State board member Ryan Petty floated the idea of bringing local union officials before the board because 鈥渁t a minimum, we'd be hearing both sides of the story.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檙e putting the raises that these teachers deserve at risk. So, I鈥檇 like to see us bring the leaders of these unions forward. If they believe their case, they can certainly try to make that in a public forum, and certainly in front of this board,鈥� Petty said.
Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association union, pointed to a complicated process of raising teacher pay.
鈥淲e urge the State Board of Education to stand with educators as we call on the Legislature to simplify the process of getting teachers their raises,鈥� Spar said in a statement to The News Service of Florida. 鈥淟awmakers could eliminate some of the 20 laws that currently dictate how teachers are paid, and they can allocate sufficient funds to ensure that educators of all levels of experience are paid fairly.鈥�
Spar added that teachers in Florida are 鈥渙n average some of the lowest paid in the nation.鈥�
鈥淭eachers with years in the classroom face an 鈥榚xperience penalty鈥� that can leave them making about the same as new teachers,鈥� Spar said.
Lawmakers this year are likely to continue allocating money to raise teacher pay. DeSantis has recommended that lawmakers set aside $1 billion in next fiscal year鈥檚 budget to bolster educators鈥� salaries.
State board member Esther Byrd suggested Wednesday that the board turn its focus to districts where salary money hasn鈥檛 been distributed. Byrd said that 鈥渢oo often鈥� local school-board members 鈥渁re just way too cozy with the unions.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to put some pressure back on the people who answer to, 鈥榳e the people,鈥� to 鈥榳e the parents鈥� in this situation,鈥� Byrd said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 the school board members.鈥�
The state board is slated to meet again April 19 in the Capitol.
