Louisiana Federation of Teachers, President Larry Carter
While BESE approves the school funding formula of $1500 teacher pay raises and $750 for support staff, President of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Larry Carter is hopeful that’s a mere starting point and educators could see even more in their paycheck after this legislative session.
“But we also felt that part of the recommendation was also to say if there were any additional monies recognized then there should be additional increases in pay for teachers and support staff,” said Carter.
Carter is hopeful the raises could go even higher in an effort to attract and keep teachers from leaving the state. Carter said they are asking for even higher raises so Louisiana educators can reach the southern regional average sooner than later.
“Then we were asking for a $2,500 pay increase for teachers and certified personnel and $1,250 increase for noncertified support staff,” said Carter.
As for feedback from legislators on the pay raises, Carter said it’s mixed, while most support the raises others worry about the sustainability of pay raises in the future. But Carter said not making the investment could be even more costly.
“And we say if we don’t that, we’re going to find ourselves with a larger teacher shortage and employee shortage and then we’ll be looking at how to replace those individuals that are the hardest to replace right now,” said Carter.
Rising inflation is another reason Carter urges lawmakers to give teachers and support staff raises to keep them from leaving the profession or state sooner than later.
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