Monroe County teachers stood outside their schools Monday morning to protest plans by the governor and Republicans in the state Legislature to divert more money from public schools to private and charter schools.

“We need the public to understand that funding is being taken away from our schools to fund private and charter schools. As a public school teacher, you should be upset about this,” Wendi Sullivan, who teaches fourth grade at Key Largo School, wrote in a “call to action” email to teachers late last month.

Charter schools are taxpayer-funded but run by private companies. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget is full of incentives aimed at the expansion of charter schools in the state.

DeSantis and Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee also want to expand the flow of public money to charter and private schools this session. His budget calls for a $422 million increase in funding toward a teachers’ bonus program, but the educators protesting Monday favor an increase in base pay instead.

The starting salary for a Florida Keys public school teacher is $47,800, according to a school district salary schedule.

The protests, one in the morning before school began and another in the afternoon, were planned to take place on the eve of opening day of the state legislative session Tuesday.

Monroe County teachers in the Lower Keys protest state plans to increase public spending on charter and private schools.

Holly Hummell-Gorman

“We will be holding up signs, making some noise and want to really let the public know what the issues are,” Susan Bazin, Key Largo Middle School band director, wrote in an email last week announcing the protests.