PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — At a Wednesday afternoon hearing, the School Board of Palm Beach County approved a 3.5% teacher pay raise by a vote of 6-1. The lone dissenting vote was District 5 board member Gloria Branch.
WATCH: School board approves raise by 6-1 vote
"Oh my god, I just had goosebumps and this is just overwhelming. I just can't explain how happy I am, not for me so much but for my colleagues," said educator Cheryl Whitehurst.
We've been following the push for better pay for Palm Beach County teachers for months, and listening to concerns from teachers, students and parents.
WATCH: WPTV's Zitlali Solache breaks down the latest
Teachers have been vocal about the school district's proposal, as a new report ranks Florida last in average teacher pay for the third year, and the cost of living in Palm Beach County continues to rise.
"I didn't vote against it because I don't like teachers. That's not it at all. I don't want to lose anybody. This is serious stuff. We better be out there promoting this referendum in November. All we're doing is in-fighting," Branch said during the hearing.
The concern now is the educators that the school district told WPTV they're going to have to lay off to be able to afford the raises.
WATCH: Reaction to 6-1 vote for teacher raises
The union was asking for a 3.5% salary increase, which matches the recommendation of a third-party magistrate, while the school district proposed a 1.5% recurring raise along with a 1.5% one-time bonus.
Superintendent Michael J. Burke rejected an independent magistrate's recommendation for a 3.5% increase. The Classroom Teachers Association and the school board reached an impasse in negotiations in November.
Teacher union president Gordan Longhofer and others had argued teachers are already 7% behind the rate of inflation. The teacher union's attorney, Mark Richard, described the financial strain many educators are under.
"One of our leaders testified that she is carrying a child to make extra money — to be a surrogate mom," Richard said.
WATCH: WPTV speaks to local teachers at Let's Hear It event
Support for the raise extended beyond the classroom. High school students gathered 6,000 signatures in a student-led petition, and community members turned out to make their voices heard.
"Knowing that they heard us and saw our petition is really cool and we’re really that this was the outcome we wanted," said student Hannah Russell.
Teachers say the approved raise will mean an extra $30 to $40 per paycheck.
"I do think they made the right choice. You made a lot of new teachers happy and you know what — many will stay now," teacher Stacy Tepper said.
At a Let's Hear It event on Tuesday at Veterans Park in Royal Palm Beach, teachers and parents made their voices heard.
"We deserve this. You constantly tell us that we are grade-A teachers," said Veronica Kivela, a social studies teacher at Santaluces Community High School. "It takes a village to raise children."
"Florida teacher pay is 50th in the nation; the school district is an A-rated district. We need to give our teachers A-rated pay," parent Christopher Butler said.
When we asked the school district how they plan to reallocate funds for teacher pay, they responded by saying they'll make modifications to the budget and bring it for discussion at a future workshop.
Following the vote, Burke released the following statement:
"The School Board faced a difficult decision today, and I respect the outcome fully. We will work to implement the School Board's decision.
There is no question that teachers deserve a meaningful raise, and I have deep respect for the work our teachers do every day in the classroom.
We will continue to advocate for higher teacher pay from the state. The long-term answer to teacher pay in Florida runs through Tallahassee, and we will keep making that case.
I have spent 28 years in this School District because I believe in our educators and the work of our schools. What unites us all is a belief that every child in Palm Beach County deserves an excellent education. Now, we all must come together to support the students who are counting on us to finish the school year strong."
Watch a recording of Wednesday's hearing, vote below:
MORE WPTV COVERAGE:
Education
These positions could be cut if school district approves 3.5% raise
Education
Palm Beach County teachers dispute rejected pay raise and hearing
Education
How this school district is keeping teachers in the classroom
Education
'Struggling ... to feed myself': Teachers cite low pay for leaving district
Let's Hear It
