Palm Beach Teachers Union Criticizes Salary Hearing Timing

CTA says the hearing is scheduled during teachers' required work hours, making it difficult for them to attend.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:58am

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The Palm Beach Classroom Teachers Association (CTA) has scheduled a news conference on Monday to address concerns about a salary impasse hearing scheduled during teachers' work hours. CTA President Gordan Longhofer criticized the timing of the hearing, calling it "grossly disrespectful" as it falls during the most consequential act regarding teacher salaries this year. The school board will decide on a 3.5% salary increase recommendation during the hearing on May 6 at 2 p.m., which Longhofer says most teachers work until 3 or 4 p.m. and will have difficulty attending.

Why it matters

The timing of the salary hearing is seen as a way to limit teacher participation and input, raising concerns about transparency and the district's commitment to properly compensating its educators. With teachers facing rising costs of living, the union argues the district has the funds to provide a meaningful raise but is choosing not to do so.

The details

Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Mike Burke recently rejected an independent recommendation for a 3.5% salary increase for teachers. The school board will now decide on the matter during an impasse hearing on May 6, scheduled for 2 p.m. CTA President Gordan Longhofer expressed frustration that most teachers work until 3 or 4 p.m., making it difficult for them to attend the hearing. Longhofer also pointed out that the district has a significant amount of money in reserves while teachers struggle with rising costs.

  • The news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The salary impasse hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on May 6, 2026.

The players

Gordan Longhofer

The president of the Palm Beach Classroom Teachers Association (CTA).

Mike Burke

The superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools, who recently rejected an independent recommendation for a 3.5% salary increase for teachers.

Palm Beach Classroom Teachers Association (CTA)

The teachers' union that has scheduled a news conference to address concerns about the timing of the salary impasse hearing.

Palm Beach County Schools

The school district that will decide on the 3.5% salary increase recommendation during the impasse hearing.

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What they’re saying

“It's just grossly disrespectful because the teachers, it is the most consequential act that is going to occur regarding teacher salaries this year.”

— Gordan Longhofer, CTA President

“My personal opinion is there is not at this point, there is a desire to have to face the teachers. It gives the appearance of it being shrouded in secrecy, or when teachers cannot be a part of it.”

— Gordan Longhofer, CTA President

“The superintendent and his team continually are responsible for funding and that they have been underfunding schools for a long time and they continue to say that they're concerned about declining enrollment is making it impossible to do this raise. That's what they're saying. I, on the other hand, look at the same circumstances, and I see a growing pile of reserve money. At this point, we just don't know why it's sitting there, if not for a circumstance like now, when teachers have earned something to keep things with inflation and the district is denying them that.”

— Gordan Longhofer, CTA President

What’s next

The CTA news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026, to address their concerns about the timing of the salary impasse hearing. The school board will then hold the impasse hearing at 2 p.m. on May 6, 2026, where they will decide on the 3.5% salary increase recommendation.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between teachers' unions and school districts over fair compensation, with the CTA arguing the district has the resources to provide a meaningful raise but is choosing not to do so in a transparent manner. The timing of the impasse hearing is seen as a way to limit teacher participation, raising concerns about the district's commitment to properly valuing its educators.