A special magistrate recommended raising teacher pay in Volusia County, following months of negotiations between the school district and the teachers union. But the school district says it can’t afford to.

  • Magistrate recommends Volusia County give teachers an almost 4 percent pay raise
  • School district says it can't afford to, which the union disputes
  • The union says teachers will continue to "work to contract"

A special magistrate was called in after the school district declared an impasse in negotiations.

The magistrate recommended an almost 4 percent pay raise for teachers starting May 1.

But the school district says there is no money for raises and that the district expects a budget deficit going into next year.

"We've been saying all along that the money is not there,” said school district spokesperson Nancy Wait. “The money that the Union is talking about is money that is not recurring. It's one-time things that is not going to pay for those raises going forward."

The union disagrees.

"Based on just the numbers they've given us, that not only do we not have a deficit in Volusia County, we have a surplus," said Volusia Teachers Organization president Andrew Spar.

District leaders told union leaders they also want to change the way health insurance is provided as part of these recent negotiations.

"We believe it is illegal for them to force on us insurance changes for next year, since we're not negotiating for next year. And we've already talked to our attorney. We will look at filing an unfair labor practice charge," said Spar.

Meanwhile, teachers will continue to work to contract, working only the hours they are required to work and not attending field trips or other functions.

With graduation ceremonies about a month away, Spar says most teachers will sit on the sidelines and not take charge of the ceremony.

"They will not go and work the graduations this year," said Spar.

Both sides agree the magistrate's recommendations are non-binding.

Now both sides have 20 days to respond in writing to those recommendations.

The school board is expected to make a final decision.