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Palm Beach County teachers rally to protect pay raises approved by voters

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Posted at 11:15 AM, May 01, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-01 18:06:22-04

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Palm Beach County teachers rallied for a second-straight day on Wednesday to protect pay raises that were approved by voters.

A demonstration was held outside Palm Beach County School District headquarters ahead of Wednesday night's school board meeting.

On Tuesday, hundreds of teachers, school board members, and parents rallied outside the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office to make their voices heard.

They're fighting to protect the will of the people after more than 72 percent of voters in Palm Beach County voted to raise local taxes to fund traditional public schools.

Last month, the Florida House voted to overturn that referendum, which would require the Palm Beach County School District to share the additional money with charter schools.

"Not only is the Legislature overriding the will of the voters in this county, but they’re also putting us in a position where we can’t deliver what we promised to the voters," said School Board Chair Frank Barbieri on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, charter school teachers and students held their own rally across the street from public school teachers, saying they're not being treated equally.

"I think it’s not fair," said Grace Coriolan, a charter school teacher. "We’re all equal, and we’re all the same. We all work as hard as other schools."

The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.