Negotiations between the Volusia County School District and the Volusia Teachers Organization over wages will now go to the school board.
The school district has declared an impasse which means the final decision on collective bargaining issues falls to the school board.
The district says they proposed approximately $5 million in raises for this school year including a boost in teacher pay by $1,500 and $750 for veteran teachers.
According to the district, the teacher’s union proposed raises valued between more than $22 million to $37 million over a two year period.
In response to the impasse decision, Superintendent James T. Russell released the following statement:
The school district has worked in good faith to offer all it can to teachers this year. At the end of the day, we have to face financial reality. We are committed to increasing teacher pay and have a track record of doing so over the last two years. That work will continue in future years.
Andrew Spar, President of the Volusia Teachers Organization, also released a statement:
This impasse declaration, both the method and timing of the notice and the declaration itself, sends a message that the school board clearly does not value the people who work with our children every day.