St. Johns County Education Association continues pay negotiations with school board tonight

ST. JOHNS, Fla. — The St. Johns County Education Association is in a negotiation meeting with the school board about teachers’ pay.

“We, meaning the union and school district go to the table every single year,” Michelle Dilon said.

Dilon, president of the St. Johns County Education Association, plans to negotiate teacher pay tonight with the St. Johns County School District.

“This year has been a long process. The district declared an impasse, but the union did not. We were willing to go back to the table,” Dilon said.

Dilon says she can’t discuss what they plan to negotiate tonight, but they are prepared for a meeting that will last at least three hours.

“I believe that teaching is the most important profession out there because it makes all professions possible,” Dilon said.

Action News Jax told you previously that St. Johns County teachers received a raise last year. This increased their base pay to a minimum of $47,500.

READ: ‘Work to contract day:’ SJC teachers will only work hours they’re paid to protest lack of pay raise

We reached out to the school district to see if they had any comments about tonight’s meeting. Although it was later in the day, we haven’t heard anything back.

Dilon adds the community has been backing them throughout this entire process and adds she has her reasons why she believes teachers should be compensated well.

“I would ask have you ever been a teacher? Have you ever worked in public education? Until you walk in our shoes and know how we pour our hearts and souls into this job and we believe in what we do, you can’t know our worth,” says Dilon.

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