ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / December 9, 2000

RESERVE – In a rare display of agreement between labor and management, the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board gave its approval to tworesolutions that sent strong messages to both Gov. Mike Foster and theLouisiana Legislature.

Following the lead of the Louisiana Educators Association’s efforts to get Foster and the Legislature to give teachers a raise, the St. John SchoolBoard administration closed ranks with teachers and agreed to participate in the LEA’s yellow-ribbon crusade to convince the state government to give teachers a much-needed raise.

The first resolution called for Gov. Foster to call a special session of theLegislature to find a way to give public school employees a raise.

The second resolution requests that the Legislature not use the Minimum Foundation Program to fund the teachers’ pay raise.

The MFP is a state fund that gives each school board a certain amount of money each year for essentials like books and supplies and other essential education tools. The Legislature is thinking of retooling the MFP and movingfunds to help give teachers a raise.

Newly-elected board member Russ Wise said, “The Legislature is in no mood to raise taxes, so they may realign the MFP and tell school boards to use these funds to give teachers a raise.”School Superintendent Chris Donaldson echoed that thought. “We met withthe state superintendent of education today,” said Donaldson, “and he warned us that we are heading for a funding crisis in the state.”Wise warned the board, “This is a serious issue. We can’t give raises and buybooks with a decrease in the MFP.”The board, all wearing yellow ribbons, passed both resolutions by a vote of 10-0. John Crose was not present at the meeting.In other school board business: Wise was officially sworn in as representative from District 8. Boardattorney John Diassellis administered the oath while Wise’s son and wife looked on. Wise takes over Richard DeLong’s seat for the next two years. DeLong retired from the board in July, and Wise won the special election held in November.

Two art students, Jaden Coleman of Glade School and Chelsea Defiel LaPlace Elementary, were honored for having their artwork placed on a Christmas ornament and hung on the official Christmas tree in the governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.

The board created the new position of transportation assistant to help out the director of transportation. The new post was recommended by atransportation consultant who audited the school system’s bus system. Thenew position pays $21,576 a year and will help the director manage the system’s fleet of school buses. Board member James Madere said, “This is amuch-needed position.” Because the St. John Parish School Board saved $36,565 in medical andrecuperative sabbaticals, the state has ordered the board to distribute the money equally among all the teachers. As a result, teachers will get an extra$100 in their paychecks this month.

The annual audit of Student Activity Funds was released and Executive Director of Business and Finance Felix Boughton said the school system has improved since the last audit. In last year’s audit there were no schoolswithout violations, and this year there are four schools with no student fund violations. According to Boughton this is “phenomenal progress.” In all areasof the audit the number of schools with violations all decreased.

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