Wakulla School Board’s U-Turn: Foreign Teachers Approved at $13,500 Each After 2023 Rejection

Wakulla County parents, your school district has done a 180 on a controversial plan, and it’s time to pay attention. On January 21, 2025, during an unprecedented ice storm that left 15,000-16,000 residents without power, the Wakulla County School Board met at 69 Arran Road, Crawfordville, and quietly approved a contract with TPG Cultural Exchange to hire international teachers on J1 visas for the 2025-2026 school year. This comes just two years after the same board rejected a similar TPG proposal in January 2023, following fierce opposition from teachers and residents. A reader’s tip led Wakulla Reports to uncover this deal, which costs thousands per teacher while local educators leave over low pay and high insurance costs. Parents, this affects your kids and your tax dollars—here are the verified facts.

The 2023 Rejection: Teachers Stood Firm

On January 17, 2023, the school board considered a TPG contract to address a shortage of 28 teachers, as reported by The Wakulla Sun. The meeting room was packed with concerned citizens, mostly teachers, who opposed the plan. Six speakers, primarily educators, argued against it, raising concerns about higher costs, lack of Florida teaching certificates, and English fluency—claims disputed by district staff. CFO Randy Beach and HR Director Lori Sandgren clarified that TPG teachers would be certified, vetted, and interviewed by principals, with the district saving ~$5,300 per teacher by not paying retirement or Social Security. Sandgren called it “a tool in the toolbox,” not a full solution, aiming to hire just one or two teachers, like math instructors for Wakulla High School.

Board member Laura Lawhon communicated that low pay (Wakulla ranked 53rd of 67 Florida counties) and high insurance costs ($600/month for singles, $1,200 for families) were driving teachers away. She argued the plan made local educators feel “replaceable,” drawing applause. Board member Josh Brown’s motion to approve the contract died without a second, and the room erupted in cheers. Pearce called it “a missed opportunity” for students. Eddie Hand, a new board member, asked only about English fluency, while a parent reportedly told Pearce they didn’t want “a foreigner” teaching their child.

A month later, on February 21, 2023, Brown raised the issue again, suggesting a workshop to address misinformation, per The Wakulla Sun. He noted the district’s 25-teacher shortage and regretted not anticipating the backlash. Board members Cale Langston and Melisa Taylor expressed interest, but Hand stood by his opposition. Pearce revealed TPG withdrew its offer after its CEO viewed a Facebook video of the meeting, citing “xenophobic and racist” comments. Pearce said TPG wouldn’t bring teachers to an unwelcoming community, and no other exchange vendors were pursued. Allison Garrett, vice-president of the Wakulla Classroom Teachers Association, indicated the union’s opposition stemmed from poor presentation, not the teachers’ foreign status, suggesting a different approach might have been better received.

The 2025 Approval: A Quiet Reversal

Fast forward to January 21, 2025, when the board approved the TPG contract 4-1, per the meeting minutes. Myhre presented the MOU (agenda item 6.6), claiming it fills vacancies “unfilled for an excessive time with no qualified applicants” to ensure “students are not left with an unqualified teacher.” The agenda states the cost per position is “equal to, or less, than filling the position locally” with “no additional funding” needed. Held during an ice storm that closed most businesses and left thousands without power, the meeting likely had limited public attendance, raising questions about timing.

The TPG contract details the costs: $13,500 per teacher per year in administrative fees, or $8,500 for mid-year placements (Exhibit A). Each teacher gets a relocation loan of up to $3,500, advanced by the district and repaid via six monthly payroll deductions (Section 4.k). For 10 teachers, fees alone would cost $135,000, excluding salaries or loan administration. J1 teachers stay 3-5 years before returning home, creating a temporary workforce (Section 4.e). The contract requires the same salary schedule as local teachers (Section 4.a) and mandates district support like induction and cultural exchange activities (Section 4.c).

A Deepening Teacher Crisis

The 2025 minutes show 12 resignations, including five WHS teachers (math, science, NJROTC) and one from WMS, effective December 2024-January 2025. Only three new teachers were hired (English, science, time-limited), all ending May 2025, indicating ongoing struggles to fill permanent roles. With 5,156 students and 308 teachers (2022-2023 data), Wakulla’s student-teacher ratio is 16.74:1. Angela H. Nichols, a former Wakulla teacher and board member, left after 16 years due to low salaries and high insurance costs, a sentiment echoed by Lawhon in 2023. If the district can afford $13,500 fees and $3,500 loans per J1 teacher, why not address these issues to keep local educators?

Transparency Concerns

The 2025 agenda and minutes omit the $13,500 fees and $3,500 loans, noting only that the MOU passed without discussion. The TPG contract’s public records section (Section 6) requires compliance with Florida’s Chapter 119 laws but allows TPG to designate parts as “Confidential Trade Secret Information” exempt from disclosure. In 2023, teachers felt blindsided by the proposal’s presentation, and the 2025 approval during an ice storm suggests limited public engagement. Why wasn’t this high-cost plan openly discussed, especially after 2023’s rejection?

Leadership Shift

In 2023, Pearce championed the TPG plan, calling it a “tool” for a national shortage, but faced resistance. By 2025, Myhre, the new superintendent, presented the MOU, per the minutes. Myhre’s role is verified as presenter and district contact (Section 23, with Lori Sandgren for public records).

Impact on Students

The $13,500 fees and $3,500 loans per teacher divert funds that could address local retention. J1 teachers, limited to 3-5 years, risk creating a revolving door, disrupting stability for Wakulla’s students, who need educators invested in our rural community. The 2025 resignations outpace permanent hires, signaling a worsening crisis. The district’s claim that TPG’s costs match local hires is unverified beyond the same salary schedule (Section 4.a). In 2023, teachers felt the plan devalued them, and approving it during an ice storm feels like a sidestep of community input.

Verified Questions

The documents and 2023 articles raise critical, verified questions:

1. Why the reversal? Why did the board approve TPG in 2025 after rejecting it in 2023, and what changed?

2. Why no transparency? Why weren’t the $13,500 fees and $3,500 loans disclosed before the 2025 vote, especially post-2023 backlash?

3. How many teachers? The contract requires an annual teacher count (Section 1.a), but no number is specified. How many are planned?

4. Why not retain locals? With resignations rising, why not address low pay (53rd of 67 counties) and high insurance ($1,200/month for families)? How far could we spread that $13,500.00 per foreign teacher to lower the insurance cost and attract local teachers?

5. The Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners canceled their meeting the same day. Why didn't the school board cancel their meeting?

What Parents Can Do

Wakulla parents, your kids deserve a district that values local teachers and transparency. Here’s how to act, based on verified facts:

• Attend board meetings. Meetings are at 69 Arran Road. Check www.wakullaschooldistrict.org for schedules (agenda-confirmed).

• Speak at “Citizens to be Heard.” The minutes show public comments (e.g., Gulf Specimen Lab). Sign up to speak for three minutes.

• Request records. Contact Lori Sandgren at (850) 926-0065 ext. 9401 or lori.sandgren@wcsb.us for the TPG contract, invoices, and teacher numbers, per Florida’s public records laws (Section 6).

• Join the District Advisory Council. Call Holly Harden at (850) 926-0065 to get involved (district contact).

If you have documents or insights—especially from teachers—send them to us (anonymously, if needed) at wakullareports@gmail.com . We’ll update with verified findings.