Take Action

Next week, BESE will meet determine how large of a raise will be included in their MFP proposal. Join me in asking BESE to pass a raise of at least $4,000.

On Monday, the MFP Task Force voted to include a $2,000 raise for teachers and $1,000 for school support staff, but we need to push BESE for more. This year, Arkansas is proposing a $10,000 raise, which would bring the minimum teacher pay to $50,000/year. Florida is proposing record spending for education, including raising the starting pay for teachers to $65,000/year. Texas has proposed a $15,000 pay raise for teachers and a 25% increase for support staff. Last year, Alabama passed a raise nearly $2,000 larger than what was passed in Louisiana and Mississippi approved an increase averaging over $5,000.

Louisiana can not afford to fall further behind the Southern Regional Average. Our schools can not continue on this path, we need our elected leaders to take action NOW.

Everyone deserves a secure retirement, especially those who devoted their career to public service. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) threatens that by substantially reducing or eliminating the EARNED social security benefits of the millions of retired teachers and public employees who contributed to Social Security through other employment. Thousands more are penalized every year as they retire from public service because their state, municipality, or school district does not participate in the Social Security system.

This unfair penalty also contributes to the current teacher and educator shortages, as it serves as a disincentive for those looking to join the ranks of teachers as a second career when they learn that the WEP-GPO penalty will jeopardize their earned Social Security benefits if they enter the classroom.

Click here to sign the petition.

Last week the legislative auditor published a report entitled "Teacher Qualifications and Pay Impact on Teacher Retention and Student Performance."

A few days later, Dr. Brumley sent a 2-page response outlining a few broad platitudes, with no specific solutions. Keith Leger from LDOE said that he thought this response would make teachers feel respected and valued, but we're not so sure... CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REPORT & DR. BRUMLEY'S RESPONSE.

THEN tell him what you really think! What should LDOE do to recruit and retain effective educators? Dr. Brumley said “we should listen to classroom teachers” – so use this opportunity to let him know what you and your coworkers really need to be successful educators.

On Sunday afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to deliberate the budget bill (HB 1) and they will determine how much money to allocate for teacher and school employee raises. If the Senate doesn’t fund raises in the budget, then teachers and school employees aren’t getting raises this year, so this is very important!

Click here to ask the Senate Finance Committee to support additional raises for teachers & school employees.

On Monday, May 9th the Revenue Estimating Conference met to review and revise the Official Revenue Forecast. They recognized an additional $350 million in revenue for this year (and $104 million for next year).

Now is the time for legislators to send the MFP back to BESE so that they can increase the teacher and school employee pay raise. Neighboring states are passing larger raises and Louisiana can't afford to fall further behind!

Click here to send them a letter!

On Tuesday, May 3rd the House Education Committee will hear two bills that seek to expand employee rights for teachers and school employees. Both of these bills would help boost morale, and extend basic rights to all of our employees. Use this form to ask the Committee to support House Bills 688 (Phelps) and HB 819 (Cox).

Coming before the House Education Committee on Tuesday, May 3rd is a series of bills that might seem relatively modest on their own, but when taken together would dramatically increase teacher’s workload and attack their professional autonomy.

At the root of this legislation is a distrust for teachers. Politicians are trying to score political points on the backs of our teachers and it does nothing to help our schools and students succeed. We need legislators to eliminate burdensome legislation, not create more. Use this form to ask your legislators to oppose House Bills 356 (Amedee), HB 453 (Harris), HB 368 (Harris), and HB 837 (Horton).

On Thursday, April 21st, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed an initial budget. The $37 billion budget did include pay raises for teachers and school employees, but only $1,500 and $750. A lot will change between now and then. Some legislators are already pushing back against additional increases for teacher and school employee raises. Now is the crucial time for your legislators to hear from you.

Please take a moment to send a personalized message to your Louisiana State Representative and Senator, asking them to support a larger pay increase. Tell them, in your own words, why this is so important.

HB 215 (M. White) & SB 57 (McMath) are nearly identical. They would change the formula and increase compensation for school bus owner-operators. Bus drivers are one of the most challenging positions to fill for Louisiana school districts. This legislation would be the first time since 1986 that the state has changed the formula and increased compensation for our owner-operators.

Click here to ask your legislators to support HB 215 & SB 57!

House Bill 819 by Rep. Cox would give extended maternal and infant health leave, that is currently available to teachers, to all school system employees. This bill is scheduled to come before the House Education Committee on Tuesday, April 19th.  
 
Click here to ask the Committee to support HB 819.