- April 20, 2024
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Citing an inability to reach a negotiation on salaries and benefits, Volusia County Schools' bargaining team declared an impasse with the Volusia United Educators Instructional and Support bargaining units on Monday, Jan. 11.
The district stated that the decision to halt all communications came after completing a total of eight bargaining sessions with both VUE units — five with the instructional bargaining unit, and three with the support bargaining unit — in which VUE turned down the $14.7 million proposal and asked for a higher amount to reach a resolution.
"This recurring expense is not sustainable and would have significant and material long term effects for all Volusia County Schools stakeholders," the district stated in its press release.
VUE responded in a press release that the bargaining units had brought proposals to the table at each of the sessions to "ask for appropriate compensation for experienced employees." These recommendations were drafted after working with a joint labor management committee over the summer.
"Unfortunately, when bargaining began in earnest in the fall, the work of the committee was ignored by the district," the VUE press release states. "Though both parties agreed that salary compression was the largest concern, the proposals made by the district did not do enough to show that it respects and prioritizes experienced staff."
The press release further explained that though bargaining "had seemed to stall," VUE remained hopeful for a resolution that would help decrease the number of educators leaving the district.
Both parties were scheduled to meet for bargaining session on Tuesday, Jan. 17. By declaring an impasse, the district effectively canceled the session.
“Our schools and our community suffer when negotiations fall apart,” Elizabeth Albert, president of Volusia United Educators, said in the press release.
The district explained that it chose to declare an impasse because it believes it "will bring a resolution in a timely fashion and ensure teachers and staff receive raises and retroactive payment before the next cycle of negotiations."
The district reported its proposals addressed recommendations made by the salary committee for both units (formed by the district and VUE): An advanced degree supplement for grandfathered instructional staff who already have an advanced degree payment in their salaries; a stipend for ESE instructional staff; a new teacher salary allocation formula that was more equitably distributed based on performance; a retirement plan eligible retention supplement for instructional staff; new salary schedules for office specialists and paraprofessionals; and an agreement to place support personnel on the new schedules based upon years of service at the district.
A declaration of impasse expedites the timeline, according to the district. A hearing before a special magistrate to review both parties' positions will be scheduled, and then a recommended order will be made for the Volusia County School Board to consider.
"Should VUE wish to engage in productive and reasonable bargaining sessions at any time, the district is ready, willing and able to convene," the VCS press release states.
Albert said she was "extremely disappointed" in the decision to declare an impasse.
“In a year when school districts have been provided with more funding than ever before by the state, it is heart breaking to know that the leaders of Volusia County Schools are not prioritizing those who are doing the work to educate our children and running our schools," she said.
An impasse was last declared in 2020. Two hearings were held before a resolution was reached in December of that year to increase the salaries of teachers and support staff.
