🌅 📚 St. Lucie Lost 113 Teachers Midyear

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👁️ Caught my eye: St. Lucie County offers utility assistance for seniors on fixed incomes. Important program to know about.

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St. Lucie County Public Schools started the year with 15 teacher vacancies. Halfway through the school year, that number has jumped to 128, according to new data from the Florida Education Association.

The Numbers: The FEA released statewide vacancy data showing St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties among districts with the largest staffing shortages in Florida. Palm Beach County has 234 vacancies, down 10 from last year, though the district says teacher vacancies are at a 10-year low with 117 open positions and a 1% vacancy rate.

What's Happening: David Freeland, president of the Education Association of St. Lucie, told WPTV the midyear increase is concerning. "We notice teachers leaving constantly. In some places, it's a revolving door," he said. "That's a high number for us and it's troubling, typically all things being equal in the middle of the year because that means we've lost teachers."

The Bigger Picture: FEA President Andrew Spar points to micromanagement, strict regulations, and Florida ranking 50th in teacher pay as reasons educators are leaving. Freeland agrees: "This is a concern not just for our district, but for us because it ultimately impacts our students. The biggest issue in a nutshell is the lack of respect that comes from the state."

Context: Last year, a Port St. Lucie resident spoke at a school board meeting backing teacher raises but asking local governments to coordinate on lowering millage rates as residents face unaffordable taxes.

What's Next: St. Lucie Public Schools has not yet responded to questions about the vacancy increase. The Florida Department of Education also has not commented on the union's concerns.

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