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A Baton Rouge judge is allowing Governor Landry’s plan to fund a $2,000 teacher stipend to move forward. Judge Chip Moore lifted the temporary restraining order he set after disqualifying the law firm representing the plaintiffs. Education reporter for the Advocate, Patrick Wall, said the state argued that the law firm, Baker Donelson, could not be involved in a lawsuit against Louisiana when also representing the state in a separate case on the federal level.
“The judge agreed with them and disqualified that firm from the case, and because of that, that also dissolved the temporary restraining order,” Wall said.
Landry’s plan reduces funding for public schools by $168 million. Instead, the money will be used to give teachers a $2,000 stipend and a $1,000 stipend for school support staff. Wall said the plan results in a reduction of 4% or more in state funding for local school systems.
“They’re going to have to find savings at the local level to kind of make up for that money,” said Wall.
Wall said the plaintiffs went to court on Monday ready to argue the Legislature and the state board of education have jurisdiction over public school funding, not the governor. Landry’s plan is set to take effect on July first. Wall said the plaintiffs have a short time to react to Monday’s court ruling
“There is a possibility they could try to file another motion, kind of bring in a different law firm and try again, but definitely, they’re racing against the clock right now,” said Wall.
Judge Moore did not rule on whether Landry has the legal authority to reallocate public school education funding. The lawsuit was basically dismissed after it was determining the law firm the plaintiffs hired can not be involved in litigation against the state when they are representing Louisiana in another case.
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