News

The January Edition

This month, the Governor announced his Executive Budget. Each year the Governor releases his proposed budget, based on the revenue recognized by the state Revenue Estimating Conference, and it is largely considered to be the starting point for the state budget process. In this year’s budget, the Governor proposed a $1,500 raise for teachers and $750 for school employees. He also said that if the REC recognizes additional revenue at their meeting in May, $49 million should go towards funding an additional $500 pay increase for teachers. This raise would be the largest state-wide pay raise that Louisiana teachers have received in over a decade, and there are already members of the legislature questioning whether or not such an amount is feasible. But the truth is, this isn’t enough. Our schools have gone through cataclysmic changes in the last couple years. Educators feel like they’re working more than ever. Teacher retirement has gone up 25% from 2020-2021 and enrollment in teaching programs is at an all-time low. In order to get out of this hole we’re in, Louisiana needs to do more than just a few hundred dollars better than what was done last year, we need policy makers to recognize the extraordinary sacrifice of our teachers and school employees and rise to this extraordinary moment in history. Louisiana is nearly $5,000 below the Southern Regional Average, and given teacher raises that are being proposed in other states, that number is only going up. Teachers deserve at least a $2,500 increase this year and next year, along with guaranteed cola increases in perpetuity, so that we don’t fall back into this hole again. MORE

COVID Decision Tree for Schools--Updated 1/10/2022

As you have heard, the CDC has updated their guidelines on symptomatic and close contact isolation/quarantine rules. You can find the updated decision tree document that is being used by schools by clicking here. You can also go to the direct link by clicking here.

Some important takeaways are listed below.

For symptomatic/postitive cases:

If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can return to school with a mask for an additional 5 days.

For close contact cases:

Staff you do not have to quarantine if:
- Have completed the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 5

Thanksgiving Office Hours Update

The Federation office is closed this week (November 22-26) in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We are thankful for a lot this year, but we are mostly thankful for our members. Without dues paying members, the work of the union would not be possible. Enjoy your break, relax and rest.

*If you have an emergency and need to get in touch with us, you can do so by messaging us on Facebook or emailing stephanie.underwood1@stftse.com.

Upcoming November Events

Dear Members,

I know you are all probably counting down to the Thanksgiving holidays just like us, as it has been a long beginning of the school year. As the Federation continues to work hard towards improving wages, benefits, and working conditions for all employees, we believe it is also important to offer events that will help us build community with the goal of building a stronger union. Therefore, we have a couple of events available to members to help us have fun, relax, and get to know each other a little more.

The first event is a virtual BINGO hosted by the St. Tammany Federation

Hurricane Ida Assistance

There are two different ways that you may be able to receive assistance for Hurrican Ida relief.

LFT and AFT partnered together to give out hardship grants. You can apply for the grant by clicking here.

Union Plus has came up with an option for a $500 disaster relief grant. See if you qualify by clicking here.

BESE Meeting August 16-Social Studies Standards and LEAP Scores

Today the BESE board met to hear an update on the revision of the Social Studies standards and the LEAP scores. Two speakers provided presentations to accompany their updates, but these weren't visible in the live video.

Social Studies standards:

Since this was an update, there wasn’t much presented on the individual standards themselves; however it was still very informative.
The standards are being revamped, but this does not include the curriculum itself. It is up to each individual school district to purchase curriculum that is relevant to their students.
The current standards were last

In order to help our members add value to their union membership, it is a goal of our administration to negotiate local benefits for those who pay dues. The previous Executive Council voted to begin a partnership with two local realtors backed by Coldwell Banker. The idea was to offer real estate workshops to our members as an added benefit. Unfortunately, COVID sidelined that project.

Over the summer, Stephen McCarthy and Judi Camhout, the realtors, approached the new administration about implementation of the program. They were now prepared to deliver workshops on two different pathways to

Dear St. Tammany Parish Teachers and School Employees,

It’s the first day of school for the 2021-2022 school year! We want to first thank you for doing the work that you do. It takes an army of very special people to ensure that our students have the best education possible while maintaining a safe environment. Therefore, we want to make sure you know that the hours of time you put into this system do not go unnoticed, and that you are valued and appreciated each and every day.

Next, we want you to know that we have been listening to your questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions. Our

BACK TO SCHOOL It’s hard to believe that summer is already ending. Many districts had expanded summer school options for students who struggled through the pandemic-year. This left many educators with even less time to recuperate from an especially exhausting year. But as always, the prospect of a new school year brings excitement and opportunity. LFT staff are preparing to greet new and returning educators at orientations and back to school events all over the state. If you are already a member of the Federation, make sure to check in with your Local representatives at these events so that you can get all the most up-to-date information about your membership and back-to-school goodies. If you aren’t already a member of the Federation, you’re missing out. Make sure to look for us at your orientation to learn more about all that membership has to offer! MORE

The March Newsletter

PAY RAISES

On March 10th the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) passed their proposal for the minimum foundation program (MFP) – the funding formula for Louisiana’s K-12 schools.

During the meeting, the Board decided to heed the recommendation from the MFP task force: passing a proposal that calls for an $80 million dollar increase in the MFP. The task force had decided on a 1.375% increase (or $40 million) put into Level 1 of the MFP for general classroom funding and another 1.375% increase, put into level 3, for raises. That comes out to $400 increase for teachers and $200 for school employees, spread out over the entire year - a meager raise. LFT was one of only two organizations in the state to oppose this proposal, and has consistently pushed for a larger pay increase.

In an unprecedented turn of events, the letter that BESE sent to the legislature, which outlines their MFP proposal, made a slight, but important, deviation from the task forces' recommendation. Instead of putting $40 million into level three where it would necessarily go towards raises and and the supplementary retirement benefits, BESE directed that funding to level 4, which is the portion of the MFP that goes towards supplementary allocations for specific programs such as career training experiences, dual enrollment and enrichment courses, assistance with high cost special education services, and recruitment and employment of international associate teachers.

LFT has consistently called on the BESE and the legislature to match the pay increase seen in 2019: $1,000 increase for teachers and $500 for support personnel, at a minimum. This plan requires a $101 million increase to level 3 of the MFP, which is the portion of the school funding formula that provides for employee salaries.

As the MFP proceeds to the legislature for approval, LFT will continue to work towards a larger raise for teachers and school employees during this