The school district with the lowest teacher pay rates in the Baton Rouge region is issuing new employee stipends.
St. Helena Parish School District Superintendent Kelli Joseph made the announcement of stipends for all school employees at the Thursday school board meeting.
The one-time stipend amounts will be determined by years of service in the school district and will be funded by a previous budget surplus. The amounts will range from $1,000 to $7,000.
"The purpose of the longevity and retention stipend is to recognize and reward the dedication, loyalty and long-term commitment of all St. Helena Parish School District employees," Joseph said.
St. Helena Parish public schools have the lowest starting teacher pay rate in the greater Baton Rouge region at $43,000, including a new $2,000 state stipend.
Ahead of the upcoming school year, a handful of nearby school districts, such as Ascension and Iberville parishes, have approved permanent raises. Other districts, such as West Baton Rouge, approved one-time stipends.
New hires will receive $1,000, making this year's starting teacher pay rate $44,000. Those who are not new hires but have worked in the district for less than three years, which is the largest demographic of teachers, will receive $1,500. The number increases after that for every additional three years of service.
Five employees who have worked in the district for at least 22 years will receive $7,000.
The stipends come from the 2024 fiscal year budget surplus that was over $590,000. A total of 146 employees will receive stipends, which are more than $320,000 overall, according to the superintendent.
Joseph hopes the stipends encourage teacher retention, which has been a problem in the district and nationwide.
The superintendent made sure to mention that the stipend won't happen again unless there are more surpluses in the future.
Linda Chaney, school board president, asked Joseph to write in a stipulation so people don't come to the school district for the stipend and immediately leave afterward, or "bail out on us," she said.
She said a stipulation should apply to school employees who leave before three years are up.
"If they leave within that year span, they owe us $500, and that should be withheld from that last check," she said.