Beauregard Parish committee OKs moving degreed support staff to teacher pay scale

The Beauregard Parish School Board finance committee voted April 13 to modify the support salary schedule to place five degreed support positions on the teacher pay schedule and add a 1.1 multiplier for summer months.

A staff member who introduced the proposal said the change covers lead accountant, payroll accountant, purchasing agent, adaptive behavioral specialist and the technology coordinator (degree-preferred). "I would like to pay them as a first-year teacher because it sets the schedule expectation every year upon successful evaluation," the presenter said, arguing the adjustment would make it easier for teachers to transition into those roles without losing salary or benefits.

The presenter told the committee that the change would not take effect until July 1, coinciding with the new fiscal year: "None of this, if passed, would go into effect until July 1 of this year," they said.

Committee members signaled support during discussion. After a motion and a second (Ms. Blackman and Mr. Kibedo were recorded as the first and second), the motion carried on a voice vote with no members opposing.

The committee recorded no roll-call vote in the transcript; the change was described as approved by unanimous voice vote. The committee did not provide additional numerical cost estimates during the meeting; budget impacts and exact salary scales were not specified and will require follow-up when formal adoption documents and the detailed payroll schedule are posted.

Next steps: the modification is effective July 1 if the board formally adopts it as presented and if budget approvals proceed as expected.