ORLANDO, Fla. — The teacher’s union in Orange County has filed a lawsuit against the Orange County School Board.
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Teachers are taking their district to court, claiming their rights are being violated.
The Orange County Classroom Teachers Association filed a lawsuit against Superintendent Maria Vazquez and the School Board, alleging that the district is misinterpreting a new state law regarding teacher evaluations, which was passed in 2022.
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Union officials argue that the district’s interpretation of the law goes too far and strips teachers of their rights to have a say in their evaluations.
The lawsuit claims that the superintendent’s actions violate the Florida Constitution.
However, Orange County Public Schools disagrees.
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In a statement sent to WFTV, the district said in part that instructional evaluations have always been considered a management right and that the 2022 law merely clarified existing rules.
The lawsuit is now before the courts, where a judge will decide whether the district’s interpretation of the law is valid.
The district also added that just over 95% of teachers voted to approve the law changes back in 2022.
Channel 9 is working to gather more details and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
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