Louisiana Federation of Teachers Weekly Legislative Digest April 18, 2014 Steve Monaghan, President * Les Landon, Editor 2014 Regular Legislative Session Now available on the Web at http://la.aft.org Check out all things legislative on the LFT’s Legislative Resource Page! Agreement reached on teacher due process This statement was released by Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve […]
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Agreement reached on teacher due process (Baton Rouge – April 18, 2014) This statement was released by Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan this morning: The governor’s office has announced that a substitute bill, HB 987, has been introduced and contains language aimed at resolving certain concerns about the process outlined in Act 1 (2012) […]
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Tell lawmakers: Don’t handcuff teachers! Last March, a veteran teacher in Baker, Louisiana was arrested, handcuffed, taken from school in a police car and jailed. Why? An eighth grader ignored the teacher’s request that he tuck in his shirt tail (a violation of school rules) and tried to slip past the teacher into her classroom. […]
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LEADERSHIP ALERT!!! Call the members of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee before 1:30 P.M. today (April 14, 2014)!! Three bills slated to be heard by the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee would cripple local governments’ ability to pass taxes and issue bonds. Each of these bills would require more than 20 percent of […]
Read More Bill would halt teacher arrests for minor offenses Teachers could no longer be handcuffed and arrested at school for minor offenses if a bill by State Rep. Terry Landry (D-New Iberia) continues its successful path through the legislature. HB 1108 was introduced at the request of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers after a Baker, Louisiana teacher […]
Read More Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Digest Special Edition: Wednesday in the House Education Committee Wednesday, April 9, is shaping up to be a blockbuster day in the House Education Committee. It would be hard to match an agenda as difficult as the House panel faced last week, with its deliberations on Common Core lasting well […]
Read More Common Core bills rejected by committee Last-minute push by Jindal doesn’t sway members Two bills aimed at halting the imposition of Common Core standards and the tests than measure them in Louisiana were deferred by the House Education Committee after grueling, hours-long testimony on Wednesday. HB 381 by Rep. Brett Geymann (R-Lake Charles) would have replaced […]
Read More Common Core bills rejected by committee Last-minute push by Jindal doesn’t sway members Two bills aimed at halting the imposition of Common Core standards and the tests than measure them in Louisiana were deferred by the House Education Committee after grueling, hours-long testimony on Wednesday. HB 381 by Rep. Brett Geymann (R-Lake Charles) would have replaced […]
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Data protection bill approved by committee Efforts to protect student data from improper access moved ahead when the House Education Committee approved HB 1076 by Rep. John Schroder (R-Covington). The bill is a substitute for Rep. Schroder’s HB 946, the subject of emotional testimony in a March 12 hearing that ended with the voluntary deferral […]
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Louisiana Federation of Teachers Weekly Legislative Digest March 28, 2014 Steve Monaghan, President * Les Landon, Editor 2014 Regular Legislative Session Now available on the Web at http://la.aft.org Check out all things legislative on the LFT’s Legislative Resource Page! Data protection bill approved by committee Efforts to protect student data from improper access moved ahead when […]
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Monday night, at the Caddo Parish School Board meeting, there was an agenda item called, Request for Level IV Grievance Hearing, Re: Planning Period. The process is for the board to decide if they will hear the grievance (typically at the next meeting), to move to uphold the lower decision or to move to uphold […]
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Red River Parish is deeply grateful to the Caddo Parish School Board for taking a stand in support of payroll deduction. This resolution was a join resolution of all the professional associations in the Parish. Here is the text from the resolution: Resolution Opposing Elimination of Payroll Deduction of Professional Dues WHEREAS: Employees […]
Read More LFT Weekly Legislative Digest March 14th, 2014 Controversy swirls around new MFP formula After the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education was unable to agree on a public education funding formula at its regular March meeting, members convened in special session on March 13 to try again. In a contentious session, members were able […]
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On March 21-22, the AFT will host an educators’ summit on school discipline. The summit will bring together teachers, support personnel, school-based mental health professionals, superintendents and administrators to help change school climates by identifying alternatives to suspensions and developing strategies involving restorative practices. The summit comes at a time when the buzz around school […]
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AFT President Randi Weingarten and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) spoke March 6 at the Washington, D.C., launch of “Higher Ed, Not Debt,” a new multiyear campaign advocating for affordable access to higher education for all without the burden of debt or financial hardship. The AFT is one of more than 60 national and state-based organizations […]
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At last week’s Bossier Parish School Board meeting, Superintendent D.C. Machen confirmed that employees will be receiving a survey exploring the OPTION of two-times monthly pay in the spring. The OPTION of two-times monthly pay is something that Red River United pushed the Bossier Parish School Board to consider at the request of its members. […]
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Listen to Jackie Lansdale speak on the importance of protecting public education during this legislative session.
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On February 27, 2014, Red River United participated in a press conference organized by the National Public Pension Coalition around the need to preserve public employees’ pensions. View the video here. Read the KTBS News Story on the press conference here.
Read More In the past month, there have been several incidents in Caddo and Bossier schools where a student has committed an assault or battery against a teacher. While these events are certainly disturbing, what is even more disturbing is that, in many cases, the school administration has allowed the student to return to the campus. This […]
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Mark your calendars! Red River United will be holding its spring General Membership Meeting on April 3,2014 at 5:00 PM* at the Red River United office on 1726 Line Ave., Shreveport, LA 71105 Both members and potential members are encouraged to attend. Come out and learn about RRU’s initiatives this legislative session, and much, much […]
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Share My Lesson Hosts Unprecedented Virtual ‘Ideas and Innovations’ Conference Washington, DC—Share My Lesson, the largest online community of American educators sharing lesson plans and other teaching materials, will host on March 11-13 an unprecedented virtual conference of 24 webinars for educators and parents, ranging from creative ways to teach the arts and natural sciences, […]
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Red River United, in conjunction with the Caddo Parish School Board, is hosting its 11th annual “Most Improved Student Celebration” on Tuesday, May 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Southwood High School. Remember, in selecting the MOST IMPROVED STUDENT, our goal is to encourage and recognize a student who is normally not recognized […]
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Bossier Parish to Gut Dismissal Policy – BPSB Meeting this Thursday! Actions speak louder than words. On two separate occasions, you have expressed a willingness to take action and change policy/procedure to the benefit of your employees, but no action has been taken. We want to take you at your word. We want you to […]
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Superintendent John White and Louisiana Federation of Teachers state president Steve Monaghan engaged in a lively debate over Common Core State Standards. LISTEN HERE Superintendent of Education John White and Steve Monaghan, head of one of the state’s largest teachers unions, went head-to-head at a panel discussion on Common Core in Baton Rouge on Friday (Feb. 21). While both […]
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Be a part of the AFT’s First Book February and Bookmark March to promote literacy as a building block to educational equity! We are reclaiming the promise by giving away more than 250,000 free books across the country, encouraging others to register with First Book so they can have access to free and low-cost books […]
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The Myth Behind Public School Failure, by Dean Paton Published on Saturday, February 22, 2014 by YES! Magazine In the rush to privatize the country’s schools, corporations and politicians have decimated school budgets, replaced teaching with standardized testing, and placed the blame on teachers and students. Until about 1980, America’s public schoolteachers were iconic everyday […]
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A number of outrageous voucher bills were introduced over the past few weeks that could privatize the majority of our K-12 funds. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN.) and Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN.) introduced a bill, the Scholarships for Kids Act, that could turn 63 percent of federal education funding into private school vouchers. That’s all education […]
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Last week, in partnership with In the Public Interest, the AFT launched the website Cashing in on Kids—a one-stop shop for the facts about for-profit education in America. While we are working to reclaim the promise of public education, these for-profit charters are cashing in on kids. Help us call them out. The site profiles […]
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There are the modified constitutions for Red River United, the Caddo Federation of Teachers, and the Bossier Federation of Teachers. In order to allow for our brothers and sisters in Red River Parish, and other interested Parishes, to join Red River United, the following constitutions needed to be amended. Red River United (AFT Local 4995) […]
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Dear Bossier Parish School Board, Actions speak louder than words. On two separate occasions, you have expressed a willingness to take action and change policy/procedure to the benefit of your employees, but no action has been taken. We want to take you at your word. We want you to take action. Red River United is […]
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Personalized (FREE) one-on-one tutoring — The Red River United ER&D (Educational Research & Dissemination) team is proud to announce a new type of professional development for all teachers in Caddo & Bossier Parishes. We are giving you, the teacher, an opportunity to seek help for problems in the classroom by working with you one on […]
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If you are currently employed at Atkins, Woodlawn, Midway, Fair Park, Mooretown, Caddo Heights, Sunset Aces, Caddo Middle Career & Tech, Cherokee Park, JS Clark, Westwood, Pinegrove, or Queensborough, you NEED to read this. Dearest Educational Professional, As you may be aware, at the close of this school year your school will undergo one of […]
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Own YOUR profession! Take Action Now! Silence Your Voice Bill Filed for Upcoming Legislative Session- Representative Talbot is first out of the gate with a bill to eliminate payroll deduct. HB172 will be heard in the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. Payroll deduction helps us support our professional union and advocate for the needs […]
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A hand up is not a handout February 18, 2014 In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT President Randi Weingarten urges lawmakers to strengthen the rungs on America’s ladder of opportunity. She lays out an array of programs that many elected officials love to hate—including unemployment insurance, food stamps, Medicaid, pre-K education, […]
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TAKE ACTION NOW! LFT Legislative agenda: Reclaim the promise! An Excellent public education for all children is an economic necessity, an anchor of democracy, a moral imperative and a fundamental civil right. The LFT’s value-based vision of the promise of public education includes a commitment to fairness, equal opportunity to achieve, accountability at all levels, […]
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TAKE ACTION TO DEFEND EDUCATION THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION! More than 100 AFT members from New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, East Baton Rouge and other Louisiana cities and parishes turned out for an AFT town hall meeting at a downtown New Orleans hotel on Feb. 12. The town hall gave the members, as well as parents, community activists […]
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Professional development hours. Great new ideas for your classroom. Lesson plans that actually work with kids. Evening entertainment almost as good as Scandal. If you’re looking for any of these things, then join the AFT’s Share My Lesson in their first virtual conference. Teaching & Learning: Ideas & Innovations 2014 is an online festival […]
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Diane Ravitch describes herself as a 75-year-old reformed reformer. For her grandchildren and others, she is sounding the alarm about public education and its undoing through testing, accountability, choice and competition. A one-time believer in market forces to achieve reform, the former education official from the first Bush administration now sees that it hasn’t […]
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For more information, Click Here What is the Hilton Teacher Treks Program? Sponsored by Hilton Worldwide, the Hilton Teacher Treks Program is meant to bring people together and foster greater understanding between the U.S. and other countries. This program allows U.S. primary and secondary level teachers to go abroad for 2-3 weeks to travel, […]
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On February 6, 2014, the Bossier Parish School Board approved across-the-board pay raises for all Bossier Parish teachers and support personnel. 1) Performance Evaluation Stipends for Teachers (Highly Effective $1000; Effective Proficient $400; Effective Emerging $100) and Educational Leaders (Highly Effective $100; Effective Proficient $100), as well as TAP Stipends (as identified by the TAP […]
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[Show thumbnails] Mission statement for the event: “We gather here today, as educational professionals and elected leaders, to break bread while discussing the working, teaching, and learning realities of our public school system. We hope to find common ground and a shared purpose of reclaiming the promise of public education in the upcoming legislative session.” […]
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Red River United is At the Table! Princess Hill and Nikki Doughty represent RRU at PARCC. The American Federation of Teachers, in conjunction with Red River President Jackie Lansdale and Caddo Parish School Board Chief Academic Officer Keith Burton, have nominated Princess Hill (Summer Grove Elementary) and Nikki Doughty (Keithville Elementary) for a rare opportunity […]
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Red River United Adds an In-House Attorney! A Shreveport native, Patrick Woolbert, Esq. is the newest addition to the Red River United team. Mr. Woolbert earned his J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU, and his B.A. in Psychology from Centenary College of Louisiana. While representing members of Red River United in […]
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Breaking News: Louisiana Federation of Teachers Agrees to Principles of Unity The Louisiana Federation of Teachers has endorsed a set of general principles that a number of public education stakeholders have pledged to honor in the upcoming legislative session. “For the past six years, education reform has been defined by politicians, corporate profiteers and […]
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Red River United congratulates Pine Grove Elementary teacher and RRU Executive Board member Orlisa Johnson for her grant! Article from KTBS, Quoted Below: An elementary school teacher hopes to give her students a jump start on Common Core standards. Our latest One Class At a Time Winner comes to us from Caddo schools. Pine Grove […]
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Are you working to help your union find ways for its members to join in reclaiming the promise of a more just society for all? Or do you have a child who is a senior in high school with plans to attend college? We can help! As part of the Robert G. Porter Scholars Program, […]
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Educators, complete this survey and receive a FREE Bullying Prevention Toolkit. Bullying is a community issue that extends beyond the school campus and is prevalent online. The American Federation of Teachers is partnering with educators, school leaders, community and advocacy groups to recognize, prevent and combat bullying. The purpose of the AFT’s campaign, “See a […]
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Bullying Prevention Bullying is a widespread problem with harmful—sometimes tragic—consequences. As the school year gets into full swing, now is the perfect time to focus on reclaiming the promise of public education for all children by creating safe and welcoming learning environments. There are many ways to engage in bullying prevention and intervention; each approach […]
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TAKE SURVEY HERE. Dear Educator If you are a regular education teacher in grades 1-12 in a public school and have taught for at least one year, you are invited to participate in a survey that explores your experiences in working with children who have a chronic condition. Children with chronic conditions make up more […]
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New MFP won’t require teacher raises LFT President Steve Monaghan: “There is no real negotiation over the use of funds. Those who have the authority will make the choice.” This week the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved an MFP Task Force report that recommends a 2.75 percent increase in the $3.5 billion formula, […]
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Appeal court vindicates 7,000 fired educators To read the Court of Appeal ruling on the case, called Oliver et al v OPSB et al, please click here. (Baton Rouge – January 16, 2014) Some 7,000 teachers and school employees who were wrongfully terminated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were vindicated Wednesday by a five-judge […]
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Thank a Million Teachers Help Farmers’ Insurance Thank A Million Teachers and Give A Million Dollars to Teachers Farmers’ Insurance is giving away $2,500 grants to America’s teachers and you can help! Take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to an educator that’s made a difference in your life and your community. Everyone has […]
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Guidelines – what to do if a fight breaks out – There is no set of laws or court principles that require you to physically intervene or to put yourself at risk if a fight breaks out at school. Red River United urges you to use your own moral code and common sense. You should, […]
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Chad Garland, CPA is offering a 20% discount for ALL RRU members on Tax Preparation.
Read More This Week’s Teacher Tip Secretly have parents or teachers write notes of encouragement for the first day (or each day) of testing. Have it on their desk when they walk in. We’ve been doing it for years and our kids’ faces just light up! It’s a great way to start their day! -Carrie Culpepper, Bellaire Elementary […]
Read More Bogus reform group touts vouchers again (Baton Rouge – January 14, 2014) To no one’s surprise, an organization dedicated to promoting school vouchers for private and religious schools is heaping praise on Louisiana’s voucher scheme. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute today released a review of vouchers across the United States, and lauded Louisiana as a […]
Read More What Does the PISA Report tell us about US Education? When the OECD releases the PISA report every three years, many people use the ranking to claim public education in the U.S. is failing and push their corporate education reform agenda. But looking at the data, lessons that can be learned from the highest […]
Read More Tell Jindal and White they are wrong about teachers! For the second time, a state court has struck down Act 1 of 2012, the so-called “talent act,” because it violates a prohibition on bundling too many objectives in a single law. Act 1 is a reflection of the governor’s very wrong opinions about teachers. We […]
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(Baton Rouge – January 8, 2014) For the second time in less than a year, a Baton Rouge district court judge has ruled Act 1 of 2012, the so-called “talent act,” unconstitutional. Judge Michael Caldwell first ruled the act unconstitutional last March, agreeing with a lawsuit brought by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. The judge […]
Read More Audit slamming voucher schools is no surprise, LFT president says (Baton Rouge – December 17, 2013) A legislative auditor’s report criticizing state oversight of the controversial school voucher scheme was foreseen by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers more than a year ago, Federation President Steve Monaghan said today. “I do not hate to say we […]
Read More AFT’s First Book Program All teachers can sign up for the AFT First Book program. If you work in a school, community program, library, or city or county program in an under-resourced community, sign up with First Book to get free and low-cost new books for children in your area. You can also register with Share […]
Read More USA Today Article A poverty, not education, crisis in U.S.: Column Oliver Thomas 4:57 p.m. EST December 10, 2013 New studies show that the number of poor children is rising and the impact it has on learning. The latest results of the Program for International Student Assessment — which measures […]
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Parents, teachers, students and community members in 100 different locations across the United States held a large coordinated action to reclaim the promise of public education, as part of the December 9 Day of Action to Reclaim Public Education.
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People who are looking for information/apply for insurance through the federal marketplace can go online and find assistance by inputting their zip code. The results will vary depending on where you live. AFT has empowered the AFT ACA Liaisons to assist members in their states. We have gone through the informational seminar AFT provided and […]
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Bossier people, while Teach for America is not a documented threat right now, it could very much be so in the near future. Educate yourself and get involved! Teach for America was founded in 1990 by Wendy Kopp as a program that strives to “eliminate educational inequity by enlisting high-achieving recent college graduates and professionals […]
Read More AFT’s Weingarten: “The crucial question we face now is whether we have the political will to move away from the failed policies and embrace what works in high-performing countries so that we can reclaim the promise of public education.” WASHINGTON—Statement by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the Program for International Student Assessment […]
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Numerous studies show that early childhood education has positive effects on children long after they finish their education. From their first day of kindergarten, children who attended prekindergarten perform better academically in a classroom setting and do better socially with their peers. But it doesn’t stop there—in long-term studies, children who had high-quality early childhood […]
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Bus Drivers are responsible for the critical task of making sure that our students get to school and back home safely. That being said, there are laws and policies in place in order to ensure student safety on buses. There is no set maximum number of students who can be transported on a single bus, […]
Read More Paula’s Educational Supplies http://shop.paulased.com/ 302 Ockley Drive Shreveport, LA 71105 Paula’s Educational Supplies is offering 15% discount for all Red River United Across the Pond and Beyond – Tours to Ireland This business was founded by a former teacher and RRU member. $100 off tours to Ireland for all Caddo and Bossier school employees. […]
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UStream Video Link What you need to know about Student Learning Targets (from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers) Student Learning Targets (SLTs) are a crucial part of a teacher’s COMPASS evaluation. To make sure that your evaluation is an appropriate, accurate and fair representation of your professional abilities, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers offers the […]
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There are two ways to “Report It!” 1. Take the Louisiana Federation of Teachers’ survey about COMPASS. We want to know what you think about COMPASS! Whether you’re having a problem, or just want to report an issue, please click here and take the all-new LFT COMPASS survey. 2. Email us locally. “Report It!“ is a […]
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(or click here to print the fax-friendly form.) Our fax number is 318-424-4503.
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Recurring Payment Authorization Form for Charter, Private, Recovery School District, Students, Substitutes, Contract Workers, etc.
If you prefer, click on the image for the bank draft and credit card options. Print and complete the form. After completely filling out the form, fax it to (318) 424-4503 or mail the form to: Red River United, 1726 Line Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101
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