Bargaining continues between OCPS and teachers union

Although the new school year is less than one month away, a new contract between Orange County Public Schools and the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association remains elusive.

The district and teachers union this year have remained at odds over salary increases and health care costs.

The two sides met Thursday, July 9, and Friday, July 10, in a special magistrate hearing. 

At the hearing, OCPS officials presented its latest proposal, released July 1. This proposal includes a salary increase of 2.65% for Highly Effective and 1.98% for Effective teachers based on performance; TSIA salary increases for eligible teachers with 10-plus years of public-school teaching experience in Florida; similar compensation enhancements to about 1,818 additional instructional employees, including media specialists; an employee-only zero-cost premium health care plan option; a $750 one-time supplement if an agreement is reached by July 22; and a $4,000 recurring salary increase and a $4,000 one-time supplement for eligible current speech-language pathologists.

The proposal totals more than $43 million in compensation investments, including benefits, district officials said.

However, OCCTA officials said the salary increases aren’t enough and health care costs are not unsustainable. 

Under the district’s new hybrid insurance proposal, OCPS teachers’ deductibles would increase from $400 to $3,000. For a family, it would increase from $800 to $6,000. OCCTA officials proposed to reduce this increase to $800 and $1,600, respectively.

In total, including premium and deductibles, it would cost around $22,988 for a family to be insured under OCPS’ hybrid plan, OCCTA officials said.

“What is the use of health insurance if educators avoid care because they can’t afford to use it?” OCCTA President Clinton McCracken said. “Our teachers love serving students in Orange County — they chose this profession because they believe in the promise of public school. But too many are leaving because they can’t afford to stay any longer.” 

With the increase in deductibles and premiums, McCracken said teachers have no choice but to leave the profession. 

“Educators shouldn’t have to choose between their paycheck and their health,” he said. “Orange County deserves schools that attract and retain great educators, (and) that starts with fair pay and affordable health care.” 

OCPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said Florida’s health care costs are experiencing some of the fastest increases in the country, and while the district has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to offset rising health care costs, it simply is no longer sustainable. 

She said without an agreement, the district could be required to allocate nearly $20 million per month to maintain the current health care plan.

In response to the proposed salary increases, the OCCTA is asking for a 3% raise for effective teachers and a 4% raise for highly effective ones. 

In total, OCCTA proposed counteroffer totals $131.7 million — more than triple the cost of OCPS’ latest proposal.

“The district reaffirmed its July 1 proposal, which it believes represents the strongest compensation package it can responsibly sustain while maintaining the long-term financial stability necessary to continue investing in competitive salaries, affordable health care and the educational programs that support student success,” OCPS officials said. 

To help offset the rising health care costs, OCPS will make an annual contribution of $11,611 per employee, an increase from $10,555. 

With a deadline of Wednesday, July 22, OCCTA and OCPS must move quickly to find an agreement to avoid having the district allocate up to $20 million per month just to maintain its current health care plan.

Ultimately, however, it’s the Orange County School Board that will make a decision regarding negotiations. 

“They need to demand answers,” McCracken said. “They need to stand with our teachers, not bureaucracy.” 

The special magistrate will review the testimonies and evidence both sides presented before issuing its findings, facts and recommendations to the School Board.