Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) employees will get a 4% pay increase as part of a new agreement reached between the district and teachers’ union. 

According to the contract between ACPS and the Alachua County Education Association (ACEA), teachers and educational support professionals will receive a total 4% raise for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The 4% raise includes an average 1% raise that nearly all employees got at the start of their contract year, according to an ACPS press release. 

The pay increase will be “retroactive to the beginning of the contract year,” the release said. 

“This was definitely a win for both the district and the ACEA,” Debbie Terry, assistant superintendent for human resources and the district’s chief negotiator, said in the release. “The negotiations were very collaborative. Both sides listened to each other and there was mutual respect shown throughout the bargaining process.” 

Both parties said they wanted negotiations done quickly this year after what could be described as a long, contentious 2024-25 bargaining season. 

“The ACEA and the ACPS bargaining teams did an amazing and expedited job that we can both be proud of,” ACEA President Carmen Ward said in the release. “I feel that respect to employees was demonstrated, and we will continue to work together to do what is best for the people who serve the students of Alachua County.” 

Employees are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Oct. 29, to ratify the contract.  

Assuming the agreement is confirmed, the release states that it will go before the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) for a vote at its next regular meeting on Nov. 4.  

“If approved, the goal is to have the raises and retroactive pay in employees’ first paycheck in November,” the release said.  

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.