Federation pleased with 2.75% growth factor for public schools
(Baton Rouge - June 6, 2013) After a four-year drought, educators are pleased that the legislature is including a 2.75% inflation factor – about $69 million – in the education budget for 2013-14, according to Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan.
(Baton Rouge – May 31, 2013) The Louisiana Supreme Court today handed down a ruling vacating a lower court decision that Act 1 of 2012 violated the single object provision of the Louisiana Constitution, and remanding the case to the 19th Judicial District Court for a rehearing.
After conferring with counsel, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said that he believes Judge Caldwell made the correct ruling, and that the LFT will be prepared to argue the case again when it is scheduled.
Overwhelming opposition from LFT, school boards, superintendents and special education community spells doom for the $3.46 billion spending plan.
Monaghan: It’s time to involve all stakeholders in the discussion
(Baton Rouge – May 15, 2013) Citing a Supreme Court ruling that money from public education’s Minimum Foundation Program cannot be used to pay for private and religious school vouchers, the Senate Education Committee today rejected the $3.46 billion spending plan, and sent it back to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for a rewrite.
(Baton Rouge – May 14, 2013) In the wake of a State Supreme Court ruling that the state is unconstitutionally funding school voucher and course choice programs, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan is asking lawmakers to step back and rethink the controversial education reforms of 2012.
(Baton Rouge – May 7, 2013) The State of Louisiana may not use funds dedicated to public education to pay the tuition for students in private and religious schools, the State Supreme Court ruled today.
“The state’s highest court affirmed what we believed all along,” said Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan. “Our constitution clearly states that public education’s Minimum Foundation Program is reserved for public schools and public school systems.
Thanks in large part to the thousands of e-mails, phone calls and personal contacts that you have made with lawmakers, the House Education Committee on Wednesday approved a bill to delay the implementation of punitive elements of the teacher evaluation plan for another year.
In an unprecedented display of unity, leaders of the state’s most influential education organizations announced their opposition to re-enacting elements of Governor Bobby Jindal’s radical education agenda.
After serving the union she founded for 38 years, Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers President Doris Flanagan announced her retirement at a meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Executive Board on April 6.
Certainly no one wants to repeat the 2012 Legislative Session, right?
Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said SB 89 suggests that the Governor is "doubling down on flawed policy borne of bad politics."