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Frustration grows after impasse on raise negotiations for Volusia Co. teachers

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County School District and the Teacher’s Union could not reach an agreement on teachers’ wages and benefits for the current school year.

The district declared an impasse at a meeting Wednesday night, which means the decision of what will happen next will now be turned over to a magistrate.

The union was asking for an 8 percent pay increase in teacher pay over the next two years. The school district offered a 2 percent raise for one year.

“This is really a slap in the face of the hard-working people in the district,” said Teacher Union President Andrew Spar. “The district is at a 2 percent on average increase, which actually brings up beginning teacher pay by $1,500 but everyone else only $750.”

Spar said teachers have been fighting not just for pay raises but for cleaner classrooms and more respect.

“They’re frustrated to the point where if striking was legal in the state of Florida, I believe our teachers would have gone on strike by now,” Spar said.