Beauregard Parish board adopts 2025–26 salary schedule, approves $500 retention stipend and $750,000 for AC upgrades

The Beauregard Parish School Board on May 14 adopted the district’s 2025–26 salary schedule, approved a $500 retention stipend targeted to eligible teachers and counselors and authorized $750,000 in parishwide air‑conditioning upgrades using funds remaining from the 2023 bond.

During the meeting, Mister Holly, the superintendent, told the board the salary schedule incorporates two state stipend lines – a $1,000 support stipend and a $2,000 certified stipend – and noted that those disbursements historically occur in mid‑September. “Last year, those funds came in at the August, the very September 1…our disbursement day last year was September 18. It should fall somewhere on September 19,” Holly said. He also said the district removed a performance stipend tied to high evaluations and added a retention stipend. The board approved the schedule after a motion by Board Member R. Shield and a second from Mister Shirley.

On finance committee recommendations, the board approved a $500 retention stipend for teachers and counselors who meet three criteria: a successful evaluation under the legacy LEADS rubric, employment during the prior school term (excluding nonrenewals), and continued employment on the disbursement date (January 15). The finance presenter said teachers contacted by email and text favored the January disbursement date.

The board also approved a motion to spend $750,000 from remaining 2023 bond proceeds on parishwide air‑conditioning upgrades. The motion was presented as a use of bond funds already authorized in 2023; the board approved it by voice vote.

The policy committee brought three revisions to the board as well. The board voted to approve and waive the waiting period on revisions to policy file IFA (instructional materials), IFBGA (student computer and Internet use) and JVD (student absences and excuses).

Votes at a glance: - Adopt 2025–26 salary schedule: motion by R. Shield; second by Mister Shirley; approved by voice vote ('aye'). - $500 retention stipend (finance recommendation): approved by voice vote; disbursement set for January 15 (criteria specified in motion). - $750,000 parishwide AC upgrades (use of 2023 bond funds): approved by voice vote. - Policy revisions (IFA, IFBGA, JVD): each approved and waiting period waived by voice votes.

The board did not provide roll‑call tallies in the audible record for these votes; approvals were recorded as unanimous voice votes. The board’s actions establish the district’s pay framework for 2025–26 and allocate bond proceeds for facilities work; implementation details and specific vendor selections for the AC work were not specified in the meeting record.

Next steps: the superintendent and finance staff will proceed with disbursement scheduling and facilities planning as appropriate; no additional timeline for AC project procurement was provided at the meeting.