TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Leon County Schools and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association did not reach an agreement Wednesday over using state funds for teacher salary increases.
- That's after the District was called out by Florida's Education Commissioner for the slow rollout of state funds allocated for salary increases.
- The District and the union said the reason for the holdup is the union's bargaining process as they look to increase teacher salaries further.
- Watch the videos to hear from the District and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association.
UPDATE:
Negotiations are still ongoing between Leon County Schools and the Leon Classroom Teachers Association. The two groups met Wednesday night to discuss using state funds for teacher raises.
Both sides presented MOUs and counter-proposals, but they did not agree on a deal, leaving the future uncertain for teachers.
The state approved $1 million specifically for teacher raises.
Earlier this month, Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas criticized Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna and the LCTA for not implementing those raises right away.
Before the Wednesday meeting, LCS board chair Laurie Cox addressed the issue before state leaders.
"Every time our district bargaining comes before the union, they're stonewalled, and they will not accept a proposal," Cox said.
We spoke with LCTA president Scott Mazur after the meeting Wednesday night. He says the extra money from the state only adds up to around $40 per month for teachers. He claims that increase will not cover cost increases for things like insurance.
He presented a teacher survey to the school board and said teachers wanted to negotiate for more money on top of the state funds.
Leon County Schools says their budget is too tight to make that happen.
"I think the union believes that if they sign this MOU that we won't look at other funding locally to put on top of it," Superintendent Hanna said Tuesday.
The superintendent has expressed concerns over a lack of funding for months now, following cuts at the state and federal level. Earlier this year, LCS announced they would have to suspend some afterschool programs due to a lack of funding. A partnership with CSC Leon helped keep those programs running for now.
During the state board of education meeting Wednesday, Kamoutsas criticized the superintendent for not acting with more urgency. He also shared a warning for the union.
"I would caution the union. Continue to mess around and you're going to find out. These folks are upset that the teachers that they want to prioritize getting those salaries are waiting an entire year through the end of the school year before they're able to see that. So keep playing games, win stupid prizes," Kamoutsas said.
Mazur says the LCTA is scheduled to continue negotiations again on October 1. That's the deadline to accept the state funds.
EARLIER BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Negotiations will take place between Leon County Schools and Leon Classroom Teachers Association over teacher salary increases. That's after the District was criticized by the State's top education leader over the slow rollout of state funds allocated for these increases.
Florida's Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas, sent a letter to Leon County Schools Board Chair Laurie Lawson Cox that reads in part:
"I have serious concerns regarding Superintendent Rocky Hanna's handling of teacher compensation through the teacher salary increase allocation."
The State recently awarded the District about $1 million for salary increases.
The letter goes on to say, "Superintendent Hanna has repeatedly delayed implementation, forcing teachers to needlessly wait for the raises they rightfully earned."
"For the last two years, throughout negotiations with the Teachers Association, we've offered them memorandums of understanding around that money that came from the State earmarked for teacher salary increases," said Hanna. "Both times we've offered those memorandums of understanding, we've been rejected by the Teachers Union."
So right now, that $1 million is on hold?
"That's right," said Hanna. "It's just sitting. It's on hold. We've offered another memorandum of understanding to try to get it out before the deadline of October 1st."
Kamoutsas' letter also calls the union "complicit" in delaying the rollout of this money.
"The only response is this: it is not about an amount of money, it's about the right amount of money," said Kamoutsas.
Next steps — Mazur said he'll offer up the memorandum of understanding to the Union to see if they want to accept the $1 million from the State, or push for more money.
Those discussions between the District and the Union are set to take place on Wednesday at the Aquilina Howell Center.
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