OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County district leaders and the Osceola County Education Association (OCEA) gathered around the bargaining table on Wednesday. The OCEA, which is the local union, is proposing paid maternity leave for teachers, and believe it might be a historic proposal for the school system.

What You Need To Know

  • Under their proposal, teachers would get 8 weeks of paid maternity leave

  • Currently, OCEA officials say teachers need to use short term disability, PTO, or FMLA to be take off work after a baby

  • Whether the proposal comes to fruition is dependent on how the bargaining process between the district and union goes

Janet Moody, President of the OCEA, says the move could make a difference for the entire district as schools work to retain and recruit new employees.

In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded paid maternity leave for Florida state employees. While this does not apply to teachers who are district employees, Moody says the new changes inspired them to move forward with their own proposals.

Currently, Moody says most Osceola County teachers use short-term disability and PTO to be at home with their baby. However, short-term disability for their teachers only pays 67% of what they usually make. Teachers can also take time away through FMLA, but that time is unpaid.

For a teacher making $52,000/year with 6 weeks of short-term disability and 10 sick days, the Osceola County teachers union estimates the employee would have $6,479 in lost income during their leave of absence.

“That means that they can’t pay their bills or maintain their lifestyle,” said Moody. “And then if you have a baby, you have the added cost of having that child.”

Moody says they believe they would be the only public school district in the state to offer 8 weeks of paid maternity leave if the proposal goes through. Spectrum News has reached out to all of our school districts in an effort to confirm.

Moody says she feels good about their proposal as they enter into their bargaining process with the district.

“I do think the district is taking everything seriously. Having a new superintendent, Dr. Shanoff, he’s great. He’s open to new ideas. He’s young. He’s family oriented. He understands the need for having great educators in this district,” Moody said.

Until a contract agreement is made between both the district and union, the bargaining process will continue over the next few weeks.

Celeste Springer is an education beat reporter for Spectrum News 13. If you have a story idea or concern, you can email her at celeste.springer@charter.com.