Allen School Board approves holiday salary supplement
OBERLIN — The Allen Parish School Board voted Monday to use more than $1.6 million in local sales tax revenue and gaming compact funds from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana to fund salary supplements for its 661 employees.
The supplements will be paid in the form of a 13th check to be distributed by Dec. 20, according to Finance Committee Chairperson Carolyn Manuel.
In it’s first action, the board agreed to use $952,859 in gaming compact revenues from the Coushatta Tribe to provide $1,350 for degreed professional employees and $750 for all other employees.
In a separate measure, the board also agreed to use $720,011 in surplus sales taxes to pay an additional $850 salary supplement to all employees.
"I think our teachers look forward to getting a salary supplement, as well as all our other staff," Manuel said. "We have been fortunate to be able to continue to do that year after year and hopefully we can continue as long as possible because our teachers and staff deserve it.
As approved, degreed professionals — including classroom teachers and administrators — will receive a total $2,200 one-time supplement.
All other employees, including support personnel, will receive a total of $1,600.
School board members and substitutes will not get the stipends.
The total amounts are the same as last year, despite a slight drop in gaming revenue, according to Finance Director Tammy Ritchie.
The supplements will be paid in the form of a 13th check to be distributed by Dec. 20.
Superintendent Michael Doucet thanked the board for their efforts in this year’s resolution for the annual holiday supplement.
"Every year at this time we work very hard and long hours to get all of the pay rolls out to our employees," Doucet said. "I am confident that Tammy (Ritchie) and the girls will do an exceptional job with this difficult task."
Staff will research all employees’ work history to make sure they qualify for the supplements, he said.
"Hopefully board members and principals will continue to explain this procedure and why it has to be done this way," Doucet said.
"Remember the stipend must be funded in order to appropriate and has to be evaluated each year. This particular board has always had the employee’s best interest at heart and I hope all employees are grateful."