For first time in 22 years, Leon Schools declares impasse on salary talks with teachers

Negotiations between the Leon County School Board and its educators have hit a dead end after Superintendent Rocky Hanna said the board would not add to its $4 million salary package offer.

"I declared impasse on the issue of compensation with the Leon Classroom Teachers Association," Hanna told the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday. The superintendent has been sitting at the bargaining table during recent negotiations with hopes of easing tensions between the two sides.

Hanna announced the stalemate during a bargaining session Tuesday. Now a special magistrate appointed by the Public Employees Relations Commission will intervene.

"This is very unfortunate," Leon Classroom Teachers Association President Scott Mazur told the Democrat. "We surveyed the bargaining unit, we asked them what is most important to you, and they have overwhelmingly said salary is most important and it's not enough."

The stalemate will be a first-time experience for all involved since the last impasse was declared by the district in 2002.

The LCTA originally asked for a $6 million salary package, the district responded with $4 million. On Tuesday, the teachers lowered the ask to $5.5 million, which still left a $1.5 million gap. The district didn't budge on its offer.

"For a million dollars, they want to go to impasse," Mazur said. The district is "saying they don't have it."

The district received about $2 million from the state for salaries for the school year and planned to supplement an additional $2 million on top of that for the negotiation package.

Teachers have consistently voiced concerns about pay and have pleaded on social media and school board meetings for "a livable wage," an issue Hanna says goes beyond the jurisdiction of the school district.

In April, the  National Education Association  released a report ranking Florida in last place for the nation's average teacher pay at $53,098. The minimum livable wage is $58,970 according to the report.

Hanna has repeatedly called for teachers to help make the case to state legislators for more money for salaries and pointed to his efforts to increase wages during his recent successful campaign for re-election. He also emphasized the importance of being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars.

The previous bargaining session  lasted 10 months , with teachers battling for salary compression to be resolved and veteran teacher pay to be raised. Negotiations ended with a $5.12 million salary budget for teachers.

Hanna said after discussing the issue with school board members, it was agreed there was not more the district could add without harming the district and busting the budget.

"Our financial picture is a bit murky and unclear. I felt like and the school board members felt like this package was something we could commit to without potentially jeopardizing the future financial health of the district," Hanna told the Democrat.

Now both sides will incur costs as they turn the matter over to PERC to pay for the special magistrate and attorney fees.

The organizations are already paying fees for PERC services as the LCTA prepares to enter an election after missing the state's mandated 60% threshold of members paying membership dues, which for the LCTA, is $778.85 yearly.

The teachers originally said they wanted to wrap up bargaining as quickly as possible , but with the impasse now underway, there is no clear timetable for a resolution.

Hanna said the district still needs to formally file for the impasse with PERC, but the delay won't help the teachers get paid sooner.

The special magistrate will need to review the district's finances and make a recommendation to the school board, a process that could take months.

"Last night's negotiations with LCS are a clear indication that the district does not understand the reality that so many of our educators are facing and the negative impact their loss will have on the students of our community," the teachers' union posted on Facebook.

"From the beginning, LCS has positioned itself for an impasse by providing one offer for salary with no intent to negotiate. We will continue to listen and work with LCS's dedicated educators to ensure their voice is heard."

CORRECTION : An earlier version of this story misstated the LCTA's counteroffer for a salary package. Their total came to $5.5 million, including the cost of parental leave compensation.

Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com . Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3 . 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon School district, teachers' union at impasse over pay