BARGAINING UNIT NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 3, 2026 - ORANGECTA.COM
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President's Message
President's Message
Welcome back to a new school year! Whether you're returning to a familiar classroom or joining OCPS for the first time, we're glad you're here. Every new school year brings fresh opportunities, new students, and new challenges. This year, more than ever, we need to stand together.
If you're not yet a member of your union, the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, there has never been a more important time to join. Our collective strength at the bargaining table depends on educators standing together. Every member strengthens our voice and our ability to fight for the salary, benefits, working conditions, and professional respect that every educator deserves.
We've been hard at work over the summer continuing our fighting for a fair contract and affordable healthcare. As you know, the district declared impasse after three bargaining sessions. We've now had a hearing before the Special Magistrate. We're awaiting these transcripts, then will submit briefs to the magistrate and await his recommendation. The School Board Hearing would take place after this. Right now is the most important time in this process where members are sharing with the school board members their personal stories and how these insurance increases are unaffordable. I encourage you to send a brief email to them today (see emails below).
The district's proposed healthcare changes would be catastrophic for our educators and their families. Massive increases to premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs would force some employees to delay medical care, drop family coverage, or absorb significant cuts to their take-home pay. Orange County educators deserve better. Find a guest column I wrote for the Orlando Sentinel last week about this below.
We also pushed for the district and School Board to increase the One Mill with 100% of the increase going toward increasing educator pay. Even though they didn't decide to increase the millage, we've continued to push for dedicating a percentage of the current One Mill to increasing teacher pay and ALSO increasing the millage in 2028 by .25 with all of that increase going toward increasing teacher pay.
Below you'll find important updates about negotiations, the impasse process, and an upcoming School Board hearing that will help determine the future of our contract. This hearing will be one of the most important opportunities for educators to make their voices heard. Your participation matters. School Board members pay attention when educators show up, speak out, and stand together. The outcome of this process will be shaped not only at the bargaining table, but by the strength and engagement of our members.
Please stay connected throughout the year:
Follow our Public Facebook Page
Join our Private Facebook Group (CTA Members)
Follow us on Instagram and Threads: @OrangeCTA
Not a member? Share your home email HERE so we can keep you informed about negotiations and other important developments.
Thank you for everything you do for Orange County's students. Together, we've accomplished so much, and together we will continue fighting for the schools, educators, and profession our community deserves.
Welcome back, and let's make this a year of solidarity and strength.
In Solidarity,
Clinton McCracken
Orange CTA President
26 Year OCPS Teacher
School Board Member Emails
teresa.jacobs@ocps.net
angie.gallo@ocps.net
maria.salamanca@ocps.net
stephanie.vanos@ocps.net
anne.douglas@ocps.net
vicki.felder@ocps.net
alicia.farrant@ocps.net
melissa.byrd@ocps.net
Association Representative Summer Leadership Training 2026
BARGAINING
BARGAINING
Check the bargaining section of our website and join our Facebook group to keep updated. Let’s show the district that we’re paying attention, we’re united, and we’re action ready.
The district declared impasse in April, and we've spent the summer making sure educators and our community understand what's at stake. We've been sending regular updates to every bargaining unit employee who has shared a personal email address with us (click HERE if you haven't yet). The district has also sent multiple News You Can Use emails, but those messages have not told the full story. From the beginning, CTA has maintained that educators deserve to know not only the proposed salary increases, but also the catastrophic increases in insurance premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs. These issues cannot be viewed separately. When considered together, educators would actually see a net loss in take-home pay, which is why CTA members have continued standing together throughout the summer to fight for better. CTA proposed multiple solutions to reduce insurance costs, along with a salary proposal of a 2% cost-of-living adjustment, 3% for Effective, and 4% for Highly Effective employees. The district has rejected that proposal, so both sides presented their cases before a Special Magistrate. Thank you to the many members who attended both hearing days. Your presence matters. We are now awaiting the Special Magistrate's recommendation before moving to the next step in the impasse process.
Separate from impasse, CTA and the district reached an agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the state-funded TSIA allocation. These funds are heavily restricted by state law and, this year, could only be used for classroom teachers with 10 or more years of Florida public school experience. Through negotiations, CTA was also able to secure eligibility for nonclassroom teachers. This agreement is now in the ratification process and is separate from the contract issues currently at impasse. See details in an email sent to your OCPS email address.
“Our educators dedicate their lives to caring for other people's children and families, yet the district's combined salary and insurance proposal makes it unaffordable for our educators
to take care of their own families.”
Clinton McCracken - CTA President
Impasse Hearing 07.10.2026
NEW HIRES
NEW HIRES
Welcome to OCPS and to the profession! Orange County Classroom Teachers Association is the union that bargains on your behalf for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. We also defend member's rights in the Contract when necessary through the grievance process and are there for CTA members when they need someone in their corner due to investigations. Click here for a message from CTA President and OCPS teacher Clinton McCracken.
CONTRACT REMINDERS
CONTRACT REMINDERS
Find your Collective Bargaining Agreement (Contract) at orangecta.com
These rights weren’t just freely given to us. We fought for them together.
Questions? Members call your CTA Specialist at 407-298-0756
All school handbooks must comply with our Contract.
Administrators may schedule meetings or professional development on no more than two early-release Wednesdays each month.
Teachers can’t be given homework for PLCs/CTs.
PLCs/Collaborative Teams can NOT be required during your daily uninterrupted planning time. This is YOUR planning time.
Schools should avoid unnecessary meetings or professional development on the Wednesday before progress reports or report cards are due.
Teachers can wear jeans any day of the week.
Lesson plan templates and team lesson plans can’t be required.
CRMs, SBUAs, and Common Assessments can’t be required.
Principals do NOT decide who will be on the FAC.
Everyone in our bargaining unit gets daily uninterrupted planning time, including Deans, Social Workers, School Counselors, and all other non-classroom educators.
You should not be scheduled to supervise students for more than 3 hours without a break.
The regular employee duty day is seven and one-half hours (7.5), including a 30 minute duty-free lunch.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
WELCOME BACK SOCIAL: Kick off the new school year with fellow CTA members on Friday August 21 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at RockPit Brewing. Reconnect with colleagues, meet educators from across the district, enjoy great conversation, and celebrate the start of a new school year together. Not a member yet? You can join CTA when you arrive!
CANVASS TO HELP GET OUT THE VOTE August 8 and 15: The August 18 School Board Election is a critical local election for public education, and we need educators to make their voices heard. Join our union sisters and brothers from UNITE HERE 737 and UNITE HERE 362 as we canvass in School Board Districts 1, 2, and 3 to encourage fellow union members to vote. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Downey Park on August 8. If you have a CTA shirt, please wear it. We'll only be knocking on the doors of fellow AFL-CIO union members.
Every conversation matters. Every vote matters. Join us as we help elect leaders who will stand with public education and the educators who make it possible.
Sponsored by Orange County Classroom Teachers Association
EDUVOTER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: EduVoter will host its inaugural leadership conference in Orlando on August 28-29. The event is dedicated to strengthening traditional public education through leadership development, community engagement, and advocacy.
CTA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Don't miss CTA Professional Learning! Join us for high-quality professional development during your workday with a district-provided substitute. Our Ai in Education sessions are held virtually, so you can participate from home while still receiving a district-provided substitute. Our first courses this September include: Ai in Education, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Finding Strengths: Supporting Students with Disabilities. If your principal denies your request to attend a CTA professional learning course, please contact the CTA office right away. To reserve your spot, email orangecta@gmail.com. Spaces fill up quickly.
CTA MEMBERS ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING: August 5, 5pm. Register HERE. Learn about our recent accomplishments, our upcoming challenges and goals for the year, and provide feedback to CTA leadership.
FEA POWER HOUR: The successes and struggles of the 2027 legislative session will be shaped by what happens in the upcoming elections. FEA Power Hour will take place the first Tuesday of each month August-November. This is a great opportunity for members to get engaged in making a positive change this election season.
EQUALITY FLORIDA BACK TO SCHOOL WEBINAR: Do you want to be sure you are up-to-date on legal updates impacting LGBTQ students and educators? Want best practices for creating safe, welcoming and supportive learning environments? Want resources and tools you can use immediately in your school or classroom? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, you’ll want to be sure you attend Equality Florida’s back to school webinar August 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. EDT.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW ARS!: Each school/worksite is able to have at least one Association Representative (AR). ARs serve as the vital link between their colleagues and the CTA office and leadership, sharing important updates, answering questions, setting up a Faculty Advisory Committee, and working directly with CTA staff to strengthen our union at the worksite. Congratulations and welcome to all of our new Association Representatives! Thank you for stepping into this important leadership role. We're excited to have you on the team.
CTA DAYS: AUGUST 6, 13, 20, 27: Each Thursday in August we are wearing red and jeans to stand in solidarity. Take a group or individual photo and send to orangecta@gmail.com.
LABOR MANAGEMENT UPDATES:
The Labor Management Committee continues to be an important forum for CTA and the District to work together to address issues that affect educators throughout the school year. Through this collaborative process, we have reached agreements such as the Maternity Leave MOU and 10 signed Memorandums of Understanding that have strengthened protections and clarified expectations for members.
Over the past year, Labor Management discussions have covered a wide range of topics, including ParentSquare, Meet the Teacher, CFEs, the Referendum, technology issues (including the removal of instructional programs), Safe Signs, involuntary transfers, school closures, and many other issues impacting our schools. The committee has also brought together employee groups, such as school counselors, and District leaders to discuss working conditions and identify solutions to issues affecting specific job classifications. In addition, Labor Management has addressed worksite renovations, construction and maintenance concerns, as well as individual member concerns and school-specific workplace issues.
We look forward to continuing this work during the upcoming school year. Labor Management meetings have already been scheduled, and CTA will continue using this process to identify concerns, advocate for solutions, and improve working conditions for educators across the district.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS BECAUSE MEMBERS STOOD STRONG TOGETHER:
Reduced sick leave donation requirement from 10 to 4 days
3 Weeks Paid Maternity Leave
Removed Open House
Expanded to add Bargaining Committee with at least one representative from each school/worksite
Paid Bereavement Leave
All Advanced Degrees recognized
Reclaimed our Planning Time
Percentage Raises to reduce wage compression
Added Remote Work Options
30 Minute Lunches
Added protections for unfounded claims
No meetings on the last Wednesday of the student school year
Moved a teacher non workday to April to ease the long period of no time off
And more!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
https://www.orangecta.com/for-members/professional-development-program/
CTA BENEFITS
CTA BENEFITS
CTA DENTAL/VISION: Optional CTA Member Benefits are available to members at special rates. Visit ctabenefits.com or call 407-890-6874 to enroll. Optional benefits include:
Humana Dental & VSP Vision
Aflac (Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, BenExtend)
Disability Insurance
Life and Long-Term Care
Cosmetic/elective coverage (fertility, weight loss, medspa, and more)
Legal Protection & ID Theft
Pet Insurance
Auto & Home Insurance
Other benefits through CTA include:
YMCA 10% Discount
20% off tuition at National University
10% off Student Loan Program Services
THE NEA TRAVEL PROGRAM is a free benefit for NEA members. Receive exclusive deals and discounts, saving you up to 60% on hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more. Plus earn NEA Travel Dollars to use like cash along the way and help you save even more (1 credit = 1 USD). New to the program? Enroll for free today and earn $500 Travel Dollars on NEA! Valid for one year and replenished annually.
Click to join the CTA Members FB group (the only official CTA FB Group)
“Like” CTA’s public FB Page HERE to see posts in your feed
Follow Instagram, Threads, Bluesky @orangecta.
FREE CTA MEMBER T-SHIRT: Members click HERE to order your T-Shirt if you haven’t yet received one.
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