News

Bargaining Update: Impasse Declared

BROOKSVILLE, FL -- February 2, 2026

For the first time in more than a decade, HCTA and HCSD are at impasse over compensation for educators.

Despite the union's efforts to seek a fair settlement that addresses the rising cost of living and ever-increasing educator workloads, middle-ground could not be reached at the February 2nd bargaining session. The HCSD bargaining team offered no further movement on economics and insisted that --though the parties agree in principle on improving advanced degree supplement language-- any and all changes related to compensation be accepted as part of a whole package. The following table provides a comparison of the proposals at the time of impasse:

HCSD	HCTA
$470 salary increase for all teachers who earned a year of service credit in 2024-2025 $700 non-recurring bonus (employee pays bonus tax rate and does not count toward FRS retirement calculations)	$470 salary increase for all teachers who earned a year of service credit in 2024-2025 $1250 one-time salary supplement (taxed as regular income and counts as compensation in FRS calculations)
Total $ 1,161,900	Total $2,535,936

Prior to returning to the table to discuss economics, HCTA's bargaining team surveyed instructional staff and found that nearly 85% of respondents were not ready to accept the District's offer of a $470 salary increase and one-time $700 bonus. A key point of contention is the non-recurring funds applied as a bonus rather than a retention supplement which would qualify in the state's retirement calculations. Respondents also provided input which resulted in HCTA proposing protections for teacher planning time during pre=school days, but HCSD was not prepared to respond to a no-cost proposal intended to help address ongoing workload concerns. The parties agreed to meet again on February 25th, an indication of the parties' mutual willingness to continue negotiations even as the impasse process unfolds.

The automatic next step in the impasse process is a hearing before a special magistrate, though the parties may agree to mediation or waive the special magistrate and proceed directly to a hearing before the Hernando County School Board. Instructional staff will be kept informed as the impasse progresses and all are encouraged to attend bargaining sessions and hearings as they are scheduled.

From Chalkboards to AI: A Teacher’s 65-Year Journey

On her very first day of student teaching at Linden Avenue Middle School in Red Hook, N.Y., Martha Strever pushed, pulled and pounded on the school’s door, which was locked. No one came. Where was everybody? It was, after all, the first day of school.

It turned out everybody was exactly where they were supposed to be: inside, having entered through the school’s front entrance. Strever had been knocking on a side door. Flustered but undeterred, she not only found her way inside, she also found her life’s calling.

If an organization's budget is a reflection of their priorities, then it must be true that our most challenging financial times truly reveal what we value. If we value the contributions and efforts of educators, and if we want to retain qualified teachers in our classrooms, we have to make sure that raises keep them from falling behind!

$470 is just not enough!

TAKE ACTION. STAND TOGETHER. SIGN THE PETITION.

Labor Day 2025 - A Celebration of Our Collective Voice

BROOKSVILLE, FL -- August 29, 2025

This Labor Day, HCTA wants to take a moment to reflect on what this day truly represents—not just a long weekend, but a powerful tribute to the dignity of work and the strength of collective action.

For us, Labor Day is a celebration of every educator who shows up with passion, resilience, and commitment. It’s a reminder that our work matters—not only in the classroom, but in shaping the future of our communities. It’s also a time to honor the generations of workers who fought for the rights we now defend: fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize.

As your union, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. We continue their legacy by advocating for respect, fair treatment and the resources we need to thrive—not just survive. Whether you're a longtime member or just joining us, know this: our strength lies in our unity. Together, we amplify our voices and protect the profession we love.

This Labor Day weekend, let’s celebrate not just the work we do, but the power we hold when we stand together. Thank you for everything you do—for your students, your colleagues, and your community.

2025 HCTA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Deadline is April 7th, 2025!

Any member with a child or children graduating high school in 2025 may submit an application.

In order for your child/children to qualify you must have been a member of HCTA from January 2024.

Scholarship documents may be downloaded here:

Applications can either be mailed to the HCTA office at the address supplied on the

Hurricane Relief Hits Hernando County

This December HCTA was excited to be able to distribute Hurricane Relief funds from the National Education Association and Florida Education Association to individuals that responded to calls to assit members signfigantly impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Additionally, members of HCTA made donations to a solidarity fund which were distriuted directly to their HCTA colleagues immediately after the storms. We are excited to be able to help our members in their time of need. Happy New Year from HCTA!

This year’s ballot will put Hernando voters’ commitment to public education to the test. Not only will we see new school board members elected, but a number of ballot initiatives and referenda will shape the operations of our schools for years to come.

In the August 20th primary, EVERY voter—regardless of party affiliation—will weigh in on school board District 4. Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association vetted all candidates for school board and has endorsed Gregg Laskoski.

The November 5th general election puts both Hernando school funding referenda in front of voters alongside the local referendum which seeks to move Hernando to an elected Superintendent and the statewide constitutional amendment to move school board races from nonpartisan to partisan contests beginning in 2026.

To say that this year’s election is of great consequence to our community would certainly be an understatement! It won’t be enough to simply ensure HCTA members are informed and participate in this election cycle; we must take steps to ensure all of Hernando’s public schools’ supporters are informed and participating!

HCTA's Government Relations Committee is seeking volunteers to participate in voter outreach and member-to-member GOTV activities. Please reach out to Adam Maternowski or Jason Daly for more information.

2024 Student Scholarships

The 2024 HCTA Scholarship Application window is now open!

Deadline to submit your child's scholarship packet is April 1st, 2024.

Any member with a child/children graduating high school in 2024 may submit an application.

In order for your child/children to qualify you must have been a member of HCTA from January 2023.

Scholarship documents may be downloaded here:

Applications can either be mailed to the HCTA office at the address supplied on the Scholarship Application or dropped off at the HCTA office. If no one is present at the office, there is a mail slot in the door you can slide the application through.

Member parent will be notified via email that the application has been received.

Scholarships are awarded based on the Scoring Rubric tabulations by the HCTA Scholarship Committee.

Weingarten launches new campaign: ‘Real Solutions for Kids and Communities’

Photo of AFT President Randi Weingarten addressing TEACH 2023

The AFT has always been a solutions-driven union, and our new campaign, launched during TEACH on July 21, proves it once again with a fresh, practical approach to strengthening public education. As AFT President Randi Weingarten pointed out during her keynote speech, the $5 million, yearlong campaign, “Real Solutions for Kids and Communities,” stands up against attacks on public schools and offers real-world solutions to build up, rather than break down, our communities.

Our Union is strong because of YOU, the members of Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association.

Together -- through collective bargaining, advocacy, and organizing -- we're making a real difference in the lives of educators in Hernando County Schools. A look back over the 2024-25 school year reveals that, as our organization celebrated its 50th Anniversary, we are a union that is not simply surviving, OUR UNION IS THRIVING!

We rallied our community around the renewal of both local school funding referendums and proved that Hernando County voters understand the value of public schools and are willing to invest in them.
Our dedicated bargaining team brought bigger, more open, more transparent bargaining to HCTA members with continuous communication, detailed surveys, super-majority site representatives included in the bargaining committee, and focus group discussions encouraging any member with an interest in key issues identified through surveys to be part of developing proposals to improve working conditions.
Our bargaining unit ratified an economic agreement that provided raises focused on experience and years in Hernando Schools to address salary compression created by state mandates.
Thanks to the hard work of our HCTA Worksite Leaders, our membership density exceeded the state's required 60% and we collected near 1,000 state-required membership authorization forms in time for our 2025 registration renewal with the Public Employees Relations Commission.
And we concluded the 2024-25 school year with an amazing turnout for the mail ballot election triggered by our 2024 renewal--sending a clear message that could LEAVE NO DOUBT: Hernando teachers want their union!

Perhaps the best part is that, by extension, we are actively improving public education for students in classrooms across Hernando County. Our efforts to improve teacher working conditions are shaping student learning conditions -- supporting recruitment and retention of quality educators, ensuring needed funding for academic programs and school safety, and maintaining a strong network of education professionals promoting and upholding best practices for successful student outcomes.

The members of HCTA are committed to building upon these recent achievements and we welcome our colleagues and community partners to be part of this very important work. Instructional staff employed in Hernando County Public Schools can become active members of our union through the online application: HCTA Membership Application