OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Several teachers in Osceola County packed into the school board meeting on Tuesday night, calling for better pay.

According to the Osceola County Education Association, the base salary of a full-time teacher in Osceola County is $48,500.

With gas prices, rent hikes, and food prices, many teachers say they will need a raise or be forced to leave for better-paying jobs.

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The Florida Education Association said money is in the Osceola County School District’s budget to give teachers the cost of living wage they’re asking for.

Representatives from the Florida Education Association took to the podium and broke down the numbers in the budget and found the district can cover the 8.7% increase educators are asking for.

READ: Osceola teachers association looks to raise educator salaries

In 2021, the Florida Legislature approved a $1,000 bonus for some teachers as part of a $215 million funding package.

Those bonuses, while desperately needed, didn’t apply to all teachers. And even then, they were not enough to keep up with the cost of living.

READ: Osceola County teachers demand higher pay

In Osceola County, teachers received between $1,250 and $1,650 in bonuses as part of this year’s contract between the district and the Osceola County Education Association.

Then in July, the Osceola County school board voted to give district employees a $500 bonus.

The school Board said they were currently in negotiations with the association and could not comment on the association’s claims or when they would make a decision.

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