Negotiations with Volusia County Teachers' Union to Resume

Volusia County, FL- The Volusia United Educators Organization will be continuing negotiations with the school district for better pay Tuesday.

This is the 4th negotiation session and Andrew Spar, president of the Volusia County United Educators says he is “not too confident they will come to an agreement.” The union is hoping for significant progress, but is concerned teachers will not have a contract before the end of the school year.

According to Spar, teachers in Seminole County make $2,000-$5,000 more than teachers in Volusia County and teachers in Flagler County make $5,000-$10,000 more. These numbers make it difficult to keep great teachers in Volusia County.

If the school district and the union do not come to a settlement and the teachers start the new school year without a contract, teachers may have to start paying for their own health insurance which may cause even more teachers leaving the Volusia County School District.

Volusia County Schools’ Chief Financial Officer Debra Muller said, “We are doing a disservice to the public and our employees if we do not recognize the reality of education funding in Florida… Our board continues to make employee pay a top priority.”