- November 7, 2025
Volusia County Schools and the Volusia United Educators Instructional union have struck a deal regarding salaries — one that will raise the base teacher pay to $50,000 a year.
The agreement, which will need to be ratified by the Volusia County School Board, also includes a 0.65% salary increase through state-funded Teacher Salary Increase Allocation dollars, two days of paid bereavement leave and an increase of $2 in the retention supplement multiplier for each year of service.
And, a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for instructional staff that have worked for VCS for at least one year.
“Our employees — every single one of them — matter to us," Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said in a press release. "They are at the heart of everything we do in Volusia County, and we will always do what’s best for our teachers. We are proud that this agreement reflects our efforts to address key areas, including raising the salary for starting teachers and increasing retention pay for mid-year and veteran teachers as they continue to make a lasting impact in our classrooms."
Previously, the district had proposed a 1.5% cost-of-living increase, which triggered a declaration of an impasse and led VUE to hold a demonstration outside of the district offices on Oct. 14. VUE was initially seeking a 4% increase.
"We have shown once again that when we put our collective effort and energy into something, we will win," VUE President Elizabeth Albert said in a written update announcing the bargaining agreement. "The declaration of impasse was just one more hurdle that the district put in our path, but we have overcome this challenge and have shown district leaders, parents, community members, and potential members, that we are powerful, united, and determined."
According to the district's press release, under the agreement, qualifying teachers will also receive the following pay supplements:
In her announcement, Albert said that while the deal reached is better than where they started, "it is not the end."
"We cannot allow the momentum from bargaining to fade away," she said. "We have work that must be done to improve our working conditions and workload."
