[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6225938,"mediaKeyId","3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f","parentId",3525997,"title","Parents and volunteers urge sustainable raises, warn bonus is insufficient for teachers","audioSeconds",131,"startMs",6096000,"endMs",6227000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f&start=6096&end=6227","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f/thumbnail_6096000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6225938/Florida/Parents-and-volunteers-urge-sustainable-raises-warn-bonus-is-insufficient-for-teachers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225938-d50fdd3e35fae0b93a40f96c93f4ff0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818655&Signature=BMx1KwORrQ5AMHU-KOINW1L-K6idI55A7Mq2QsUCukt6awESP8dgWA42sxuzTsUL-enl96VPH7-1yBL0XP07~Q6UV6rBvP5gF4-rxmwRc0TCmsP8Um0pTYgCXV~8v-ca865p223qz-u6GONlWFjzzzgd1qnfNcMJ0OPEnnE-44Bgv5Ro2dvmHmLijObqym~Jo0GjvzZsdgFmlywsc4Jsln~8GmJvPICqI7QqYUr2Bgm~kmrmoPnuHHYLNdyR8ASQehUZZ4-i5N8RSc1PTZutAULLcPBzRaKSWU-J7Ogf8boHLW8jJxIVVC0m-NK9zqjvlHa3a0XRrx8lTTdMzrMncw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Osceola County School District","date","2025-05-27T17:11:59Z","article","During public comment at the May 27 School Board of Osceola County meeting, Jacqueline Cruz, a volunteer at Michigan Avenue Elementary, urged the district to provide lasting salary increases for teachers and support staff rather than one-time bonuses.

Cruz said the average teacher salary in the district is just over $50,000 while local housing and cost-of-living pressures persist. She noted teachers are taking second jobs and often pay for classroom supplies out of pocket. Cruz said a $2,000 bonus awarded in 2024 yielded an approximate total compensation increase of 8.7% that year but argued that bonuses do not solve long-term wage problems.

“Passion alone does not pay the bills,” Cruz said. “Our teachers deserve sustainable raises, genuine wage increases that keep pace with the rising cost of living.”

She also called attention to paraprofessionals, administrators, custodial and cafeteria staff and said those employees also deserve recognition and compensation. Cruz said the district should advocate at the state level and promised to support broader advocacy for sustainable teacher pay.

The board did not take immediate action during the meeting in response to the public comment; the remarks were part of the public-comment portion of the agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 27th, 2025 5:30 pm Board Meeting | Osceola School District","oneSentenceSummary","A parent and active volunteer told the Osceola County School Board on May 27 that one-time bonuses do not address long-term teacher compensation issues and called for sustainable raises and better pay for paraprofessionals and support staff.","taxTitle","Osceola, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14353,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6225942,"Public commenters urge district to reconsider chaplain program, cite counselor caseloads",499,5890000,6389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f&start=5890&end=6389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f/thumbnail_5890000.jpg","/articles/6225942/Florida/Public-commenters-urge-district-to-reconsider-chaplain-program-cite-counselor-caseloads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225942-45663b628de964365e638f8b641fd624/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818655&Signature=fbca7v841g1AWyz~sTaOO16dInOkOKjK2ndbycw8Z-6lnE8NkxIZRzSZ6cNI-ogt2AtJZnRv7L4-pt4NdhRO-mQA3OY17w-w9vjkEaFpkUs6yI2eDicTOW3HLEf3z0fYnTJrwAC8w5ykQsG5BHPaAd39WPjklPOdQdowUdeBKMuRWeS03O6RyPgFZZAmxr43inqBbdXqT9aRcVJnOL9bMThZyYuEvm34G6qDJ6QKjk0uyWtK7rHUalWcprEzWRaQYYA8B9Nt8HyzaN6XDZBUeYbae29eDcUb2c1ABKIu0xA9IM2upSI31LEU910tdSH~EqCU-ZzDnAvywiZPDh181w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During public comment at the May 27 School Board of Osceola County meeting, two members of the public urged the board to reconsider permitting campus chaplains as a voluntary support program, and cited counselor caseloads and unmet student mental-health needs.

Zee Neli Hernandez, who identified herself as a resident, said many students with mental and spiritual needs are not receiving support and urged the board to “bring God back to schools” through a chaplaincy program. Hernandez referenced campus chaplain programs elsewhere and told the board she had researched models and asked whether a district representative — specifically a District 3 representative — would help lead the effort.

Diane Knight, speaking later in public comment, framed her remarks not primarily on religion but on counselor staffing. Knight said Harmony High School had eight counselors with caseloads near 400 students, and that Poinciana High School’s five counselors had caseloads of about 700 students each. “I believe that having chaplains could help our guidance counselors,” she said, asking the board to “please just look at it again” and consider bringing the program back for discussion or study.

Hernandez also stated during public comment that she noticed agenda item 8.03 had been pulled and said the agreement was “pulled.” The transcript records her remark but does not show a board action during the meeting to confirm whether the board or an applicant initiated a withdrawal; the public comment was the source of the claim in the record.

Board members did not take action on the chaplain program during the meeting. Public comment closed and the meeting proceeded to the next agenda items.","Two public speakers at the May 27 School Board meeting asked the district to revisit a campus chaplain program, arguing chaplains could support overwhelmed guidance counselors and students with mental health needs; a speaker also observed that an agenda item relating to an agreement had been pulled.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6225948,"Rosen Family Foundation awards five $2,500 scholarships to Osceola students",191,1621000,1812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f&start=1621&end=1812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f/thumbnail_1621000.jpg","/articles/6225948/Florida/Rosen-Family-Foundation-awards-five-2500-scholarships-to-Osceola-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225948-9862af8bc9a56bb036378ed36cfc438c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818655&Signature=VW4242bT4e8QQfgDwQKAH2XwypyUe8UpcSYqqp-lCARf6i8J6dMObAfgGfrIL7GpTQdh4zpW97FnIQp6pcn1PN5QJeZvZtKHA7jxPS1FHHCErCCDu8zG5Oa-XzG69vBCLdwqUGQnSRjcTB-b2Zv4v5lVF7nDX0ge1Rfp5HE7PxxIVoveLJQW9GTP-bhutO5TOLJ1aztA1Clmu8ydpPllVGnVXNF756Jopu9aGhMSKFF8k4fi1qOgYdC0OtzWvwAr8lNl6RMLuALRU2LkON8CdcZN7vNBx9woGhlAabrXgZZrXZS9CrGBxqSmVfXZ6irZLupGxywXG8-TNT6lIDB-Ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rosen Family Foundation awarded five $2,500 scholarships to high school seniors representing each board district at the May 27 meeting of the School Board of Osceola County.

Frank Santos, president and CEO of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, presented the scholarships and noted the foundation’s long-standing support for local education and programs such as Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the Tangelo Park program. Santos said recipients were selected based on service and contributions to their schools or communities.

Recipients announced at the meeting were Andres Morales (District 1, Celebration High School), Emily Komu (District 2, Osceola County School for the Arts), Kamora Smith (District 3, Poinciana High School), Ethan Ortiz Valencia (District 4, Osceola High School), and Haley San Giovanni (District 5, Saint Cloud High School). Some recipients were not present; board members accepted awards on their behalf when needed.

The district and Rosen representatives noted each recipient’s academic and extracurricular achievements and the scholarship amount. The scholarships were presented as awards during the meeting; no board vote was required to accept the gifts as described in the transcript.

Board members and staff took photos with the recipients and expressed congratulations. The Rosen Family Foundation awards were described as part of ongoing philanthropic support for education in Central Florida.","The Rosen Family Foundation presented five $2,500 scholarships to graduating students representing each of the school board districts during the May 27 Osceola County School Board meeting.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6225953,"School board approves three district appointments including Harmony High principal",307,5124000,5431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f&start=5124&end=5431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f/thumbnail_5124000.jpg","/articles/6225953/Florida/School-board-approves-three-district-appointments-including-Harmony-High-principal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225953-d04a54b19a32a97751f1c792984311d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818655&Signature=RwMZyBeY~AJridagb1pz5SurR4cCdmKudmpw4VFF1z1EiJayPnj1E4MUqZbyiKSvLxZzVvYVvrWi8XAu~7aN0Hf3GjeF7VZX5MSLFgGPahzcIgAc-Fu1E-Tfdja2QpcVKhIRJZ5dcvm0P4IPcAZD0zKu7EJ3cuLzqYOcS8NAtaABPni9dpy5J7L2XG2kyd0YKjUsroyItVZvbqoIwz7rTgnnas4K-gE8pQc45rvQHiltvfLMgQPTajOMr2VTnxS8NegR8AkwTNKAM0-HfEul67rsNA5uxatPpDTXKLYdD-uXNm0e8SEZJwlkHinzjGjay8KZ-QGEtS3SM-nLiLyf3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School Board of Osceola County on May 27 approved three personnel appointments by recorded motion.

Laurel Ramsey was appointed principal of Harmony High School. The board recorded a motion by Trustee Terry Castillo and a second by Trustee Paula Bronson; the board voted “Aye” and the motion passed. Ramsey, whose prior roles include assistant principal positions and work as a graduation coach and teacher, thanked the board and cited mentors and family support.

The board next approved Alexandra Polay as principal of the PM Wells Center for Academic Excellence. Trustee Terry Castillo moved the appointment and Trustee Besaida Garcia seconded; the motion passed. Polay told the board she was grateful for the opportunity to lead a school designed to serve students with higher support needs and described the assignment as “a dream come true.”

The final appointment approved that evening was Jamie Wotian as coordinator in Human Resources for certification compliance and recruitment. Trustee Anthony Cook moved the appointment; Trustee Paula Bronson seconded. The motion passed.

Each appointment was recorded on the meeting minutes with a standard roll-call-style verbal assent (“Aye”) and no recorded dissents. Board members congratulated the appointees; no additional directives or implementation timelines for the new roles were recorded in the meeting transcript.

The board also made a series of consent motions elsewhere on the agenda that night; these three personnel appointments were presented as separate agenda items and approved by the board during the same meeting.","The School Board of Osceola County voted to approve three administrative appointments May 27, naming Laurel Ramsey principal at Harmony High School, Alexandra Polay principal of the PM Wells Center for Academic Excellence, and Jamie Wotian coordinator for HR certification compliance and recruitment.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6225958,"Osceola schools honor driver after bus 'near miss' captured on video",156,2544000,2700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f&start=2544&end=2700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3525997-bfc3167f236bcdaae1977e150469f28f/thumbnail_2544000.jpg","/articles/6225958/Florida/Osceola-schools-honor-driver-after-bus-near-miss-captured-on-video","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225958-071c6d1aa449a677277624b1bfd12c6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770818655&Signature=lj85t3YqZJVd5TiL39T7OrHEYhhB78mT6jW0izhJv93L7WAF5H6R1lN7Td4AvfqNC48rV0ezw7vjHncaqfnNQvkKbMIcx88Z2dR92qp~aLV8mEcw9CB8nuK2zRCvDS~OyWDbF8uA0dZeAqoWS-sE6W-emvuDakJAKzF38OLQ-jRMUEgYB0HNolwl1auG~-MR9mJHQrZteLdEAw1joBjO4TUeMbRunaWpZmSIxHf3Q-zAcY04brWyvu~sAe3t0cwX57L-r4pg3ZlbiFRBWu~a-a~KHIpzRyu1cj9YP2X3wbIR9WUh79ynwYqfZOorD2kOUcha5vXEJpo04J2bWhK8Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School Board of Osceola County on May 27 recognized a bus driver whose actions, the district said, prevented a possible injury when a dump truck failed to stop while students were boarding.

At the meeting transportation staff played surveillance video from Bus 115 showing students crossing and a dump truck that did not stop. After the clip, the board introduced Vicky Turosi, the bus driver captured on the footage, and presented her with a certificate of appreciation and a “swag bag.”

“I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. I put on my red lights to complete stop,” Turosi said at the meeting, describing the moment she saw the truck and shouted “Stop” to prevent students from continuing to cross. “I was trying to save their lives.”

A staff member who played the footage identified the roadway as one where dump trucks were working and said the district relies on a combination of technology, training and protocols — and the judgment of drivers — to keep students safe. The district said the video came from the bus’s surveillance system and asked attendees to note the driver’s quick response.

The board framed the recognition as an example of the importance of its transportation staff. No vote or formal policy change followed; the item was a recognition and presentation by district staff.

The board did not discuss enforcement steps for motorists who fail to stop for school buses during the meeting. The district’s transportation presentation and Turosi’s remarks constituted the public record of the incident shown to the board.","A school bus driver whose quick actions prevented students from being struck by a passing dump truck was honored at the May 27 School Board of Osceola County meeting after district video of the incident was shown to board members.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and volunteers urge sustainable raises, warn bonus is insufficient for teachers

Public commenters urge district to reconsider chaplain program, cite counselor caseloads

Rosen Family Foundation awards five $2,500 scholarships to Osceola students

School board approves three district appointments including Harmony High principal

Osceola schools honor driver after bus 'near miss' captured on video