At the special called meeting of the Webster Parish School Board (WPSB) on November 13, the board was called upon to approve the eligibility guidelines for employees receiving the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) stipend which was approved by the Legislature earlier this year.
While the state has mandated some of the rules for distribution, others are left up to the school districts. WPSB has chosen to use guidelines that are similar to those governing the sales tax supplements that teachers receive twice per year.
In order to be eligible for the stipend, employees must be full-time employees. Bus drivers are considered full time at 21 hours per week. Only the retirees who retired during the current fiscal year will receive the stipend. Employees whose hire date is less than their contract year will receive a prorated amount, and 5-hour custodians will also receive a prorated portion.
Employees who resigned or were terminated before December 1 are not eligible to receive any portion of the stipend. Any employees who do receive the stipend but resign or are terminated before the end of their contracted year will have the amount prorated and that will be adjusted in the balance of their contract.
Preschool teachers and their paraprofessionals were not included in the guidelines from the LDOE, but the board elected to give the stipend to them under the recommendation of Finance Director Crevonne Odom.
“We would like to pay all of our employees,” said Odom. “That would really send a bad signal to the preschool teachers. As a district, I think the board should take it upon itself to include them.”
Exempt employees, those who are certificated employees, will be receiving $2,000. Non-exempt employees, support staff, will be receiving $1,000. The stipend is scheduled to be distributed on December 19.
The guidelines passed unanimously with all members present.
Odom then presented the 2022-2023 deficit to the board. No action was needed on this.
Additionally, Superintendent Rowland announced that Minden High School’s and North Webster High School’s football teams have advanced to the playoffs. Due to the limited bus situation in the north end of the parish, the schools in the northern part of the parish will dismiss at 11 AM on Friday so that the football team can use the buses to get to the game in St. James.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for December 4 at 6 PM. In honor of Lakeside Jr/Sr High School achieving the first school performance A rating in the district, the meeting will be held on the Lakeside campus. The public is welcome to attend.