Teachers 'not going to get a penny' in raises

Dave Weber
Sentinel Staff Writer
August 15, 2008

Teachers in Central Florida public schools are headed back to the classroom this year without a pay raise.

Officials in Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola and Volusia school districts say they simply cannot afford to provide even the slightest pay increase because school systems are strapped for cash. The state's budget for education has taken a nose dive because of the sour economy.

"They are not going to get a penny because we do not have it," said Diane Bauer, chairman of the Seminole School Board, which has cut about $30 million in spending to balance its budget.

Maybe later, officials are telling teachers -- but they say in the same breath that they expect the school-funding crisis to worsen before year's end.

Many of the area's more than 25,000 teachers back in school this week preparing for the arrival of students Monday say they are being shortchanged by a state that does not seem to value education. ...

Half of new teachers leave the profession in the first three years, said Frances Haithcock, chancellor of Florida schools. Many cite low pay as the reason.

Still, the economic pinch for Florida school districts is real, those close to the finances agree.

Even teacher unions that usually push hard for pay raises have backed off this year as they deal with cuts ranging from $11 million in Lake and Osceola counties to $70 million in Orange. The unions and school boards in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties are telling teachers that negotiations for pay raises are on hold for lack of cash, as they are in Lake and Volusia.

"Neither the School Board nor the union wants to put our district into dire financial straits," said Chuck Butler, assistant superintendent of Osceola schools.
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