Several teachers attended the March 10 school board meeting to give School Board member Laurie Cox an earful about her support of a public sector labor bill (SB 1296) that union advocates say will cripple government workers’ ability to organize.
“Many educators are deeply hurt by the advocacy of SB 1296,” Leon Classroom Teachers Association President Scott Mazur told Cox.
One teacher said: “I recognize and respect the work that she has put into Leon County Schools, which is why I felt disheartened to hear her describe our union as a roadblock to the money we deserve and call for us to be held accountable.”
The measure, which opponents say is aimed at kneecapping teacher unions like the LCTA, has a chance to make it through the legislative session by its scheduled end on March 13 and then on to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, who is almost certain to sign it.
“The bill does not do away with the union, but it raises the threshold to more accurately represent the body of teachers in the union and bring about accountability,” Cox said in response.
Cox testified for the legislation this session, billing herself as a 36-year teacher before joining the board. She echoed complaints by Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas about what he calls unions’ stalling tactics, slowing teachers from getting state Teacher Salary Increase Allocation money so they can hold out for more.
“For most of my career, I saw where the teachers’ union … became a roadblock, rather than serving the teachers they were commanded to help,” she told lawmakers. The LCTA “is constantly a roadblock to us giving the teachers the money that they absolutely deserve.”
Cox is also the board’s only Republican member. She represents District 4 which spans Northwest Tallahassee. She said she was invited to speak in support of the bill alongside other school board members by Kamoutsas.
“In no way was I speaking against teachers or to do away with the union but holding the union accountable,” Cox told the Democrat. “It really broke my heart tonight that teachers don’t think I support them. I love our teachers, and I want us to do better at paying our teachers more.”
The public comments come a day after the bargaining unit tentatively agreed to a $2.3 million salary package from the board after four months of a lengthy impasse stall. The agreement also includes free before and after school childcare, extended days for parental leave, and leave buyback opportunities.
What’s still on the table is a memorandum of understanding on a potential tax hike to cover teacher salaries in the future.
School Board member Darryl Jones made a motion for staff to present research on tax initiatives in other Florida counties.
He said he hopes the initiative will prevent another impasse in the future and would prefer that the workshop session be held sooner rather than later since the board will soon have to vote on ballot referendums.
The motion passed unanimously and the workshop will be scheduled during a school board agenda review meeting in April.
Alaijah Cross covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at abrown@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon teachers confront official; Board to study tax hike to boost pay
Reporting by Alaijah Cross, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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