MARTIN COUNTY — The teachers union president shouldn’t be allowed to work for the union fulltime and maintain their employee status, the School Board unanimously decided at its Sept. 8 meeting.
Instead, the union president should either remain in the classroom or take the same unpaid personal leave as other employees, the board decided. That leave, however, offers no guarantees of a job for the union leader if they want to return to the classroom after their term ends nor does it allow the president to continue gaining years of experience for salary and retirement purposes, union representatives argued.
In making their decision, the School Board rejected a special magistrate recommendation that union presidents be allowed to take a presidential leave and retain benefits.
“We’re disappointed by the decision, but we’re not surprised,” said union President Matt Theobald, who worked fulltime in the classroom during the 2024-2025 school year but wanted to be able to work fulltime for the union during his term. Theobald called the board’s decision “anti-teacher” and takes away the teachers’ voice.
In 2023, when he worked for the union fulltime, Theobald was able to meet with district officials during the day and attend meetings, he said. Union membership increased, said Theobald, a 17-year veteran teacher and Martin County High School graduate.
“The people sitting in this audience, they’re my friends, they’re my colleagues (and) co-workers. Some of them are my former teachers. Some are even my former students,” he told the board. “They’re the reason why I do what I do.”
The move would have cost the district nothing, he said. While on leave from the classroom, the union paid his salary and benefits.
Allowing the presidential leave would give “special treatment” to one employee, said board Chair Amy Pritchett. Board member Christia Li Roberts said she had concerns about how evaluations would be conducted, who would be the assigned supervisor and how issues such as workman’s comp would work.
“We do want to hear from teachers. We want teachers to have a voice,” Roberts said.
The union declared impasse in November during negotiations for the 2024-2025 contract after no agreement was reached over the issue. At the time, the western supplement paid to teachers and contract language over unpaid leave for employees seeking political office also were at issue. A special magistrate issued a recommendation in May, and the two sides reached agreement on everything except for the union presidential leave.
Teachers are expected to vote on the contract, which eliminates the presidential leave, later in September. The union and district then must begin contract negotiations for the 2025-2026 school year.
Indian River County’s teacher union president works part-time in the classroom, and works part-time for union business. The Indian River County teachers’ contract allows for the union president to take an unpaid teacher on assignment leave. In St. Lucie County, the teacher union president is considered a “teacher on special assignment” and works full-time for the union. The union pays the president’s salary and benefits to the district, so there is no cost to the district.
Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Martin County School Board rejects magistrate recommendation on union president leave
Reporting by Colleen Wixon, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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