Caddo Parish School Board debates 6% across‑the‑board raise and local stipends as possible $8M state mandate looms

The Caddo Parish School Board spent the bulk of its June 9 budget workshop debating a proposed 6% across‑the‑board pay increase for 2026‑27 and a one‑time local stipend for lower‑paid employees, while staff warned that a separate state proposal could force a roughly $8 million adjustment to the district's finances.

Board finance presenter Mr. Howard summarized staff recommendations and answered repeated questions about alternatives. He said the administration was recommending a 6% increase for all employees and that a separate local stipend — $1,500 for employees whose salary schedule begins at $30,000 or less and $1,000 for other staff — would be funded from the current year surplus, not next year's general fund.

Why it matters: board members said the raise would make Caddo Parish more competitive for teachers (Mr. Howard said the district would move into the top six in teacher pay rankings statewide if the raise is approved) but cautioned about equity and sustainability. Public commenters and board members pointed to hundreds of current vacancies — one speaker said the district had 588 active job postings — and urged targeted help for frontline positions such as paraprofessionals and bus drivers.

Board members debated alternatives to a flat percentage. Board member Barry Rashelle proposed trimming the top 10% of earners' increases to reallocate money to lower‑paid staff; staff provided ballpark estimates of savings (roughly $200,000 per full percentage point trimmed from the top 10% in the examples discussed). Members also requested scenario runs with a minimum and maximum cap (for example, 3,000 minimum / 6,000 cap) and a focused analysis of how many employees fall into each pay category.

State proposal could change the math. Mr. Howard briefed the board on an executive order from Governor Landry that would provide a one‑time $2,000 supplement for teachers and $1,000 for selected positions but needs two‑thirds legislative approval. "If that measure is adopted in the way currently described, we estimate a district cost of roughly $7.7 to $8 million," Mr. Howard said during the workshop, noting staff are continuing to refine the estimate. Board members said they would monitor the 15‑day legislative mail‑vote window and may revisit the local budget if the state action becomes binding.

Public voices at the mic pressed for equity. Christy Bato, who identified herself as an educator in the district, told the board she supported pay increases but cautioned that a flat percentage could leave frontline staff behind given the district's vacancies and rising insurance costs: "We have already faced two years of rising insurance premiums and as great as 6% sounds, it will barely offset those costs for many," she said. Jordan Thomas, president of Red River United, urged an independent organizational and compensation review to correct long‑running payroll and step inconsistencies.

Next steps: the board has a scheduled public hearing and anticipated vote on the 2026‑27 budget on June 16; staff committed to send additional scenario analyses, employee counts by job category and cost breakdowns ahead of that meeting. No final budget vote was taken at the June 9 work session.

(Reporting note: quotes and attribution in this article come from speakers who identified themselves in the workshop record.)