Monthly school board meeting to discuss magistrate’s ruling

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Tuesday’s meeting is expected to carry the same tone as recent meetings in regard to educators continuing to push the St. Johns County School District for compensation that they feel is justified because St. Johns County is the best in the state.

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Just last Thursday, a special magistrate sided with the teachers in regard to granting higher wages.

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“We don’t feel that the district has the board has made our salaries a priority,” Michelle Dillion, president of the St. Johns Education Association said.

Another monthly meeting means another opportunity for educators in the St. Johns County school district to urge the school board to pay teachers more, what they are calling a “living wage, in St. Johns county. Michelle Dillon, president of the union representing teachers in the area expected an active and emotional meeting.

Related Story: St. Johns County moves closer to higher teacher pay with superintendent’s recommendation

“I am expecting a packed house with teachers, parents, community members, and I hope and expect that they will all be asking our school board to heed the magistrate’s ruling, side with him, side with our teachers and let’s move forward and give us the money we deserve,” Dillion said.

Currently, 92 teachers have turned in resignations from St. Johns County schools at year’s end. Dillon said that if the funding process for teacher salaries doesn’t change, the exodus from education could continue.

“There is money funded through the state, and it’s called the TSIA, teacher salary increase allocation, but that can’t be all that we have. The district should kick in from their own fund-balances and other sources to continue to bring teachers to our county. If you look at it across the state, people are leaving the profession in droves,” Dillion said.

As local educators continue to fight for the present-day wages that they say they deserve, this all has an impact on the future of local students.

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“We are the cornerstone to creating every single career and occupation that is out there, and if we have empty classrooms, that’s an empty future,” Dillion said.