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Beauregard Parish board approves retention stipend for teachers and counselors
Summary
The finance committee approved a retention stipend for teachers and counselors who meet specified evaluation, employment and return-to-service criteria; funding will come largely from state-directed DCA funds and a local general fund contribution.
The Beauregard Parish School Board finance committee approved a retention stipend for teachers and counselors who meet three criteria: a successful final evaluation under the district's legacy/LEADS rubric, employment with the district the prior school year (excluding nonrenewing contracts), and continued employment on the stipend disbursement date of Jan. 15.
Supporters said the January payment date was chosen to help staff during the long pay gap that stretches over the winter break. Presenters told the committee the stipend is being reframed from a prior evaluation-based payout into a retention-focused payment tied to successful evaluations and return-to-service.
Committee members asked for clarifications during debate. Staff said the stipend will apply only to certificated teachers and counselors (librarians “follow the teachers” historically), and that temporary, nonrenewing emergency hires would not qualify. Miss Crane and staff calculated a rough per-recipient range and told the committee, "it's gonna pay somewhere between $3.80 to $4.20," language the committee referenced in discussion; presenters and members treated that as shorthand for roughly $380–$420 per eligible employee.
Committee members also asked where the money would come from. Staff said roughly 80% of the funds come from a DCA (dedicated categorical allocation) source provided through state-directed funds and roughly 20% from the district general fund. Staff described those state funds as ones the district was directed to use for effectiveness and retention purposes.
Board members amended the draft language to replace the phrase "excluding year to year contracts" with "excluding nonrenewing contracts" to avoid confusion about annually signed teacher contracts; that amendment was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The full motion to adopt the stipend criteria was then approved by voice vote with no recorded nays.
What the measure does not change: presenters emphasized the stipend is not a guaranteed signing bonus for short-term hires and will only be paid to staff who remain employed through the Jan. 15 disbursement date. Staff also said the program affects only teachers and counselors this year and does not extend to most administrators.
Next steps: staff will finalize the policy language and disbursement process and implement the Jan. 15 payout cycle for the coming school year.
Ending: Committee members welcomed the change as a way to both recognize satisfactory evaluations and encourage retention; staff said they will return with finalized language and implementation details if needed.
