By Pat Culverhouse

Webster Parish school system employees will soon receive a little extra money after the parish school board approved guidelines for Louisiana Dept. of Education (LDOE) stipend payments earlier this week.

Certified and support staff will be beneficiaries of funds appropriated during the 2025 regular session of the state legislature for one-time, non-recurring payments.

School system Director of Business and Finance Crevonne Odom told school board members stipends of $2,000 for certified staff and $1,000 for support staff will be paid Oct. 31 of this year.

While explaining the guidelines for fiscal year 2025-26 stipends, Odom said all exempt and non-exempt employees receive stipends. She identified exempt employees as certificated and non-exempt as support staff.

Guidelines presented to the school board for employees to receive  LDOE stipends include:

• Must be full-time employee as of Oct. 1, 2025.

• Retirees who retired during current fiscal year are eligible and will receive 100 percent of the stipend. All other retirees are ineligible.

• Employees whose hire date is less than their contract year will receive a pro-rated amount.

• Employees who resign or are terminated before Oct. 1 are ineligible for any portion.

• Employees who receive the stipend but resign or are terminated before the end of their contract year will receive a pro-rated amount, adjusted in their balance of contract.

• Exempt employees will receive $2,000; non-exempt will receive $1,000.

• Pre-school teachers are not included in the guidelines from LDOE but will be included, and will receive $2,000.

• Five-hour custodians will receive a pro-rated portion.

• Employees on sick leave, extended sick leave, medical sabbatical or workman’s compensation are eligible for the stipend.