Beauregard School Board officials express frustration with education changes

By Emily Burleigh

The Beauregard Parish School Board expressed its frustration with the recent legislative changes to the education system during a special meeting on Monday.

The BPSB met to consider adopting an additional compensation salary schedule for certified employees per Act 311, new legislation that requires additional pay for additional duties that are not included in teachers’ job descriptions, as well as hourly compensation for teachers who do not get their uninterrupted planning period.

In response to the legislation – which was previously vetoed by former Gov. John Bel Edwards – local school boards are required to amend their district’s salary schedule by the end of the month if such a system is not already in place. BPSB unanimously voted to do this, but not without expressing their frustrations with the state.

Board President Cynthia LaFitte, District 3C, voiced that she felt like the state “rubber-stamped” the legislation without any framework or guidance for implementation.

Teachers in attendance at the meeting noted the legislation’s ambiguity as well.

Kim Nesom said that teacher job descriptions are vague and nonuniversal. As an example, she cited that schools throughout the district have different starting and ending times (that can change from year to year). This leads to teachers working hours that exceed their contracted annual hours, not including additional work events like faculty meetings and math, reading and STEM nights.

“We’ve got to have specifics.”

Jess Mulligan questioned who would be responsible for logging additional work hours and duties, and said that there needs to be a universal definition of what qualifies as an “uninterrupted” or “unincumbered” planning period.

Board Vice President Bryan Redler, District 3D, said the board wants clarity too, stating that the enacted legislation has burdened BPSB with a quick turnaround time with little information or support.

“We represent y’all, and when we reach out higher up at the state level and we can’t get the courtesy as a fellow elected official with a returned call, I got a problem.”

Board member Garrett Greene, District 3B, said that the law is “on the surface wonderful,” but will be challenging because of the financial cost, especially because they haven’t had an increase in MFP (Minimum Foundation Program) in “a decade plus.”

The MFP is a formula established to determine the cost of a minimum program of education in Louisiana schools.

“No one is more frustrated than us, because yet again, we’ve been asked to do more with less,” he said.

“They [teachers] have expectations, we have expectations, and yet, we here, again, don’t have the proper resources to effectively give them what they’re asking us for.”

BPSB has expressed discontent with other recent state legislative changes, including the revised accountability system. Greene called into question the intention of the state’s education changes.

“I feel that we do not have proper support on the state level to give the best public education possible. I don’t believe the state wants public education,” he said. “That’s a shame, because we have a great product with great teachers.”

Despite exasperation, BPSB Superintendent Larry Hollie said the board and the district will work together to implement the new legislative requirements. He will also be contacting teachers personally for input.

“I don’t think any of this is negative. I think the state has wanted this to be, but I think we can get to a good place and a good understanding.”

Salary Schedule Amendments

Teachers will receive a net of $30 per hour, after deductions, for any work done that is not included in their job description. Hollie said the district is currently updating the roles and responsibilities of teachers. This will be presented to the board at the next regular meeting and must be approved by the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Additionally, any teacher not granted the legally obligated 45-minute minimum planning time will be compensated at an hourly rate. The rate will be calculated by taking the teacher’s annual salary and converting it into an hourly rate of pay.