DOWNTOWN TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Leon County Schools and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association are heading back to the negotiating table to discuss teacher salaries.
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In November, the two parties reached impasse and called in a third party to review the books and make recommendations to the school board. However, after discussing the situation with legal counsel in the new year, district officials decided to attempt one more round of direct negotiations.
Scott Mazur, President of the Leon Classroom Teachers Association, confirmed the union's willingness to return to discussions.
"That does not mean that we have not, that we've stopped the impasse process, but we want to make sure that we get an opportunity to hear them," Mazur said.
"So we'll have a conversation with them one last time to see if we can reach some agreement to find solidarity," Superintendent Rocky Hanna said.
The salary negotiations come as Leon County Schools faces significant budget challenges. Hanna said the district is predicting a revenue-neutral budget from the legislature while dealing with increased expenses, leading to suggestions for cuts that could total around $13 million.
"But all of these recommendations have pain points," Hanna said. "They're either funding for arts and athletic programs or not renewing the virtual school contract or increasing class size or reducing the number of interventionists and others that we have doing the work in our schools."
Despite the budget constraints, teacher salaries remain a priority. This year, teachers received about a 1% increase with money allocated from the State. The District is hoping to add to that increase by adding a millage increase to the ballot in November.
"We certainly know that a millage increase would infuse about $26 million into our budget that could go directly to increased teacher salaries," Hanna said. "That's a big deal."
Hanna said to put a mileage increase on the ballot in the November, it would have to first be approved by the School Board, and then the County Commission before it can be presented to voters.
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