NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) — The Jefferson Parish School System and the teachers union have agreed that teachers and school support workers must receive pay increases.
A proposed property tax will be presented to voters in Jefferson Parish on Dec. 7. If the 10.89 million tax proposal is approved, the tax increase will be fully applied.
“So this is not a step raise. This is for everyone who falls into those categories. That’s the amount of raise we will receive,” Superintendent James Gray said.
The proposed raises would increase the salaries of educators and support staff by several thousand dollars annually.
Related article: Jefferson Parish School Board approves millage plan for December ballot
“For first-year certified teachers, it’s an $8,300 raise; for non-certified teachers, it’s $4,900; and for support staff, it’s $2,000,” Gray explained.
Sandra Hauer, president of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers, emphasized the need for immediate raises.
“JP’s school employees – teachers and school support staff – are in dire need of pay increases. We have found that surrounding districts offer more competitive salaries. We are currently working to strengthen our ability to compete with these school districts,” she said.
Salaries for certified teachers with a bachelor’s degree currently range from $51,800 to $64,800, according to the school system’s website.
For homeowners, the district estimates that the owner of a $250,000 home with the homeowner’s exemption will pay an additional $16 per month.
“It’s $15.88, which is like the cost of a meal for one person at a fast food restaurant,” Gray said.
“We are bringing this important measure to the voters to ensure that school districts can continue to recruit and retain quality educators, which provides the quality of life we all want,” said School Board President Gerard LeBlanc. “It helps maintain it,” he added.
If passed, the bill would improve Jefferson Parish’s standing in teacher pay rankings.
“If this passes, we’ll be number one in this region. Right now, I describe the New Orleans metropolitan area as being like a donut. We’re right in the middle of it. . . . For years, we were at the bottom, and everyone around us was being pulled from the pack of teachers who offered higher salaries,” Gray said. “This positions us as number one in the region and allows us to continue to consistently have high-quality teachers in our schools.”
Gray noted that the school system is facing a teacher shortage.
“We currently have approximately 90 teacher vacancies impacting approximately 3,000 students in the system,” he said.
FOX 8 asked Gray what he would say to homeowners with high insurance premiums and tight budgets.
“While we understand that the situation is not ideal for many homeowners right now, we believe this is a long-term investment as we continue to build throughout Jefferson Parish and within our school system.” “If you look at what’s out there, this is a small step towards long-term benefits,” he said.
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