Where is the Money?
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Welcome back Caddo. Let’s get straight to the point. The five year drought on teacher pay has finally ended! Politicians called it austerity—our translation: they cut the funds; we suffer; they benefit. But, at last, we have seen a small reprieve. With much pressure from the legislators who truly value public education, classroom teachers will receive a one-time supplement. Once taxes and retirement are taken out, the check you receive should be somewhere above $500. When, you ask?
The Caddo Parish School Board first said the issue needed to go to a committee for recommendation. When we expressed our concern, they moved it to the next school board agenda on August 20th. This is one of those issues where teachers need to weigh in. By golly, you earned this. We fought for it, and there should be no pussyfooting on allocating your money to you. Pick up the phone, point that mouse, and send a message to the school board saying to them, “Now is the time!”
And while you are at it, there are two other issues you need to address. We don’t do this job alone. When we consider the promise of public education and all those who are essential in providing it, there are those who shouldn’t be forgotten. They too need recognition for their hard work. The money allocated from the state is for certified teachers only, but that doesn’t mean support employees should be left out. The Caddo Parish Finance Director said they were scrubbing the budget to identify local funds for a support employee pay supplement. Let us stand together in calling on the board members to place an item on the agenda for a support employee pay supplement.
Finally, where’s the CEEF? CEEF, or the Caddo Educational Excellence Fund, is money we receive from the riverboats. The district is only allowed to spend the interest off this account each year. A committee meets to make recommendations to the CPSB who then approve the allocation. When we looked at the proposed budget last May, there was $400,000 in that line item. It certainly appeared that since these monies are to be used for classroom enhancements, this would be an excellent way to offset the money cut from the $200 per teacher supply allotment. We immediately inquired, and we were told the committee had not met, but we were assured that the meeting would soon occur. As of Tuesday night, despite all the assurances, the committee still had not met. So once again, the funds are there, and they couldn’t be going to a nobler place than classroom materials and supplies. SHOW UP to the CPSB meeting August 20th. Encourage the board to step up and see that the funds are allocated now. Tell them to vote:
YES to allocation of MFP salary supplement for classroom teachers…
YES to a support employee supplement…
YES to supply money…..
Contact the Board Members:
District 1 Steve Riall
8033 Old Moorningsport Road
Shreveport, LA 71107
Tel: (318) 929-2672
Email: SRiall@caddo.k12.la.us
District 2 Jasmine Green
1433 Audrey Lane
Shreveport, LA 71107
Tel: (318) 703-6251
Email: Jagreen@caddo.k12.la.us
District 3 Carl A. Pierson, Sr.
First Vice President
2106 Wyoming Circle
Shreveport, LA 71101
Tel: (318) 222-0132
Email:capfromallendale1@gmail.com
District 4 Charlotte Crawley
4741 Thornhill
Shreveport, LA 71106
Tel: (318) 470-7851
Email:CMCrawley@aol.com
District 5 Curtis Hooks
3309 Sun Valley Court
Shreveport, LA 71109
Tel: (318) 423-1582
Email: CHooks@caddo.k12.la.us
District 6 Mary Trammel
229 E 75th Street
Shreveport, LA 71106
Tel: (318) 840-7813
Email: MTrammel@caddo.k12.la.us
District 7 Lillian Priest
2613 Parham Drive
Shreveport, LA 71109
Tel: (318) 635 – 8335
Fax: (318) 636 – 2177
Email: LPriest@caddo.k12.la.us
District 8 Bonita Crawford
Second Vice President
295 Patton Ave
Shreveport, LA 71105
Tel: (318) 868 – 3684
Fax: (318) 868 – 5119
Email: BCrawford@caddo.k12.la.us
District 9 Barry F. Rachal
P.O. Box 5545
Shreveport, LA 71135
Tel: (318) 918-1240 or (318) 469-2277
Email: BarryRachal@gmail.com
Email: Brachal@caddo.k12.la.us
District 10 Larry Ramsey
President
9006 Marlow Dr
Shreveport, LA 71118
Tel: (318) 686-7611
Email: LRamsey@caddo.k12.la.us
District 11 Ginger Armstrong
9800 Chase Way
Shreveport, LA 71118
Tel: (318) 688-0676
Email:GArmstrong@caddo.k12.la.us
District 12 Dottie Bell
7881 Jefferson-Paige Road
Shreveport, LA 71119
Tel: (318) 635-4667
Email: DBell@caddo.k12.la.us