By Pat Culverhouse
Webster Parish School Board members reviewed several options to dispense roughly $179,000 (gross) in stipends to parish teachers with funds coming from the Louisiana Dept. of Education (LDOE).
Crevonne Odom, the school system’s Director of Business and Finance, told board members during a finance committee meeting Monday that the money was given to school districts for the purpose of pay stipends. Among other criteria, the amount of money coming to Webster Parish was determined by the number of teachers in the district.
“The district can decide how the money is to be spent within the options the LDOE has come up with,” Odom said.
Four options have been outlined by the state education department and the board can select any one or a combination. But, Odom said, the board must choose from those outlined by the state. Options include:
• Option 1: Teachers in critical shortage areas per Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Those areas are secondary mathematics (grades 6-12), secondary science (grades 6-12) and special education (grades K-12).
Option 2: Highly effective teachers as defined in R.S. 17:381 through 3095 and Bulletin 130—regulations for the evaluation and assessment of school personnel. Odom said Webster Parish would use fiscal year 2-22-23 results.
Option 3: Teachers working in high need schools defined as those with an economically disadvantaged rate of 85 percent or greater. Only Brown Upper Elementary meets the outlined criteria.
Option 4: Teachers in leadership positions. Classroom teachers who are appointed to lead weekly teacher collaborations or those who serve as academic/instructional coaches tormentors.
In order to be eligible for the LDOE differentiated pay stipends, employee must be a full-time teacher, including Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT) teachers. Teachers who retired during the current fiscal year are eligible and will receive 100 percent of the stipend.
Also, Teachers whose hire date is less than their contract year will receive a prorated amount of the stipend. Teachers who resign or are terminated before April 1, 2024 are not eligible for any portion. Teachers on leave without pay are not eligible.
Proposed pay date for the stipends is April 30, with the distribution deadline set for May 1. Board members were told to expect a March 18 special meeting to determine which option would be adopted.
“Ms. Odom’s presentation to you tonight is for informational purposes,” Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland told members. “We would not ask you to consider voting on options until you’ve had time to study them.”
Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Franklin gave a summary on several construction projects in the district, noting most are proceeding on time. One project, however, is running well behind schedule.
“There was another water problem at the multi purpose building at Minden High School and the contractor is dealing with that,” Franklin said. “They have a new project manager there who seems to really know what he’s doing, so that’s a good thing. But I cannot tell you when it will be finished.”
During their Monday meeting, school board members also:
• Recognized Jonathan Washington, Dean of Students at Richardson Elementary School, as Employee of the Month, an award presented by Kevin Thompson of Taylor and Sons.
• Heard Shakera Williams from the Webster Parish Extension Office introduce new 4-H Agent K’Lanie Gordon.
• Adopted a resolution identifying completion of Continuing Learning Units by parish school board members Jonathan Guthrie and Debbie Thomas for 2023.
• Approved trips for students from North Webster Upper Elementary, Lakeside Jr/Sr High and Minden High School, and for Content Coaches attending the NIET (National Institute for Excellence in Teaching) National Conference.
Board members approved, in globo, spending $151,524 from parish maintenance and sales tax funds for school repairs, equipment and projects. Those included:
• Consolidated Dist. 3 Maintenance Fund: $44,176 including $21,316.51 for football equipment at Lakeside Jr/Sr High School and $11,110 on HVAC repairs at Central Elementary.
• Cotton Valley Maintenance Fund: $1,310 for boiler repairs at North Webster Upper Elementary.
• District 6 One-Half Cent Sales Tax Fund: $102,948 includes $95,000 to install 2,240 linear feet commercial grade security fencing and appropriate gates to the southern perimeter at Webster Jr. High School.
• Shongaloo Building Fund: $3,090 for boiler repairs at North Webster Lower Elementary School.
