The Caddo Parish School Board has approved a 6% pay raise for employees, set to take effect July 1. The decision came after extensive debate over how the additional funding should be distributed.
Debate Over Funding
Discussion at the board meeting centered on whether a flat percentage increase was the most equitable way to allocate the raises and whether state funding sources could provide a long-term solution to educator compensation concerns.
Red River United Executive Officer Jackie Lansdale criticized the plan, saying the raise would have a limited impact on many employees. School board members Terence Vinson and Jasmine Green made a last-minute push to revise the proposed distribution model, suggesting a tiered approach that would provide larger increases to lower-paid employees.
The debate over raises comes as school districts across Louisiana continue to grapple with teacher recruitment and retention challenges. Adding another layer to the discussion are questions surrounding Gov. Jeff Landry’s June 2 Executive order, which seeks to redirect $168 million in public education funding to support teacher stipends.
Critics argue the governor’s proposal offers only a temporary solution rather than a permanent increase in educator pay. Supporters of permanent salary increases contend that recurring raises provide greater financial stability for educators than one-time stipend payments.
Compensation Concerns
The compensation debate comes as Louisiana continues to rank near the bottom nationally in teacher pay. According to a 2026 report from the National Education Association, Louisiana teachers remain among the lowest-paid educators in the country.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
