Pasco County public school teachers and staff dedicate their lives to educating and supporting our children—but right now, they’re being forced to choose between their health and their job.

For years, one of the few consistent benefits for Pasco school employees has been access to affordable health insurance. That changed this fall. The district has eliminated fully-paid health coverage options for the first time ever. Employees now face higher monthly premiums, fewer plan choices, rising deductibles and copays—and in some cases, no viable coverage at all.

These changes aren’t just frustrating—they’re unsustainable. Teachers like Cheryl Paciorek, whose child lives with chronic diabetes, now face skyrocketing medical costs for essential care. Other longtime educators, like Shanna Quinn and Rachel Miller, are contemplating leaving the profession altogether—not because they want to, but because they can’t afford to stay.

For many, the district’s only offered plan—a single HMO with limited provider access—doesn’t cover their family’s needs. Value providers are often unavailable nearby, and while wellness clinics are being promoted as a solution, they’re difficult to access and don’t meet pediatric or emergency needs.

This is more than a contract issue. It’s a crisis of morale, retention, and basic human dignity. Our educators already face insufficient salaries and increasing classroom demands. Stripping away affordable health care isn’t just unfair—it’s a direct threat to the stability of our public school system.

We, the undersigned, call on the Pasco County School Board and Superintendent Dr. John Legg to immediately re-evaluate the current health insurance plan. We demand they work transparently with employees to restore meaningful choices, cap premium increases, and ensure access to real care—not just theoretical options.

Pasco’s educators are the backbone of our community. If we can’t take care of them, how can we expect them to take care of our kids?