TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 Talks between Leon County Schools and Leon Classroom Teachers Association took another turn Thursday night as stalled negotiations forced both sides back to the beginning.<\/p>\n
The district reset negotiations after the most recent teacher contract failed to be ratified.Teachers are pushing for clearer contract language, guaranteed funding for future raises, and workload balance.Watch the video below to find out what both sides had to say during tonight’s meeting.<\/p>\n
Leon county teachers district talks hit reset after contract is rejected over pay increase<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:<\/p>\n
Talks between Leon County Schools and the Classroom Teachers Association took another turn tonight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just almost feels like a punishment for us speaking up for ourselves,\u201d Leon County special education teacher Cierra Freeman said.<\/p>\n
Both sides returned to the bargaining table. But after hours of back and forth, they’re now back where they started.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s negotiations started with teachers and staff sharing their top concerns.<\/p>\n
They called for clearer contract language, guaranteed funding for future raises, and a staffing and workload balance. They also pushed to reject the state\u2019s pay increase of about $40 per paycheck.<\/p>\n
Throughout the session, LCS Human Resources Director Brett Shively repeated several times that there\u2019s no room in the budget for additional raises.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we had the money, we would be giving the money as raises. We have no incentive here to tell a lie,\u201d said Shively.<\/p>\n
Union representatives pushed back, saying funding decisions come down to priorities, not limitations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere doesn’t seem to be any hesitation to spend money. But in the terms of salary, it’s not matching what is in those other categories, and I think that is the burn for most people,\u201d Scott Mazur, president of the Leon Classroom Teachers Association said.<\/p>\n
After a brief break, both parties came back to the table. The district then handed out a new proposal that resets everything to the beginning.<\/p>\n
Because the last contract was not ratified, the district reverted to its original offer, making all previous concessions and agreements open for renegotiation.<\/p>\n
Many teachers say the move feels like d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu\u2014the same debate, with no real progress in sight.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know in this county, it would take me almost 20 years to make 55K which is a living wage. Even though I love teaching, and I want to stay in the classroom, there\u2019s a point at which it becomes unsustainable,\u201d said Freeman.<\/p>\n
Union leaders tell me this is the first time in 50 years that a contract has not been ratified. For now, negotiations remain open and uncertain, with the next bargaining meeting set for November.<\/p>\n
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