In the face of criticism from teachers, the governor’s office has signaled they could back a $500 raise on top of the one-thousand dollar salary boost teachers got this year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey applauds Governor Edwards for changing his mind.
“Trying to hit the southern regional average and it is a moving target, so it is going to take consistent raises three to four years to get there and stay there,” said Posey.
The governor’s initial budget proposal did not include specific language for a pay raise. But Edwards’s education policy adviser told a task force that a $39 million funding increase for public schools should go to teacher pay raises.
Last year, we were told Louisiana teachers were paid about $2,200 below the southern regional average. Posey says states around Louisiana have done a better job keeping up with the southern regional average.
“Only Florida had a smaller rise in the average teacher salary than Louisiana,” said Posey.
The debate over whether teachers will get another pay raise will head up two weeks from today when lawmakers convene for the 2020 legislative session. Posey hopes lawmakers will see the value in paying public school teachers a good salary.
“What we need to ask ourselves is that if we want our education system to improve, then we need to fund it,” said Posey.