According to WJHG-TV in Panama City, Florida, it was a packed agenda at Tuesday’s Bay District School Board meeting and everyone was looking to the board members for answers on various issues.
Those ranged from concerned parents asking to bring back Baylink, to more parents concerned about their students failing after multiple quarantines, but what seemed to be the most talked-about issue was a request to approve a resolution regarding a millage ad valorem tax hike. This proposed tax would boost teacher and district employee salaries, as well as school safety and mental health services. While Superintendent Bill Husfelt said he doesn’t know what the current millage rate is off the top of his head, he wants to explain to voters how raising it will positively impact them.
“This is the only way we can increase teachers’ salaries and make it what everyone thinks it should be. If you look at all the data, not just in Florida, but across the country, everyone believes that teachers should be paid more. Especially what they’re dealing with right now and the challenges they’ve got. I mean, they are really on the front line and we all know that,” said Husfelt.
Husfelt said the money they receive from the state, they want to use to raise all teacher and district employee pay. Association of Bay County Educators Vice President Alexis Underwood said she’s been partnering with the district for more than a decade, with the same goal in mind. Underwood said she wants voters to pass tax increase so they can put qualified, passionate and dedicated individuals in the classroom with the county’s kids.
“My personal belief is that they have done the very best they can for us within the budget they have. The only answer we can come up with is to increase millage. We need to put more money into the pockets of every employee of Bay District Schools,” said Underwood.
School board members voted unanimously to bring this to the Bay County Commission, to be put on the April ballot. The biggest thing the members want people to know is that the voters choose to pass this, not them. Underwood said by school board members approving this request, means they’re one step closer to providing additional money to all their district employees.
