A request from the Louisiana Federation of Teachers has the state House and Senate at odds.
The union wants legislation that would include a 39-million-dollar funding increase for public schools, as well as a one- to two-thousand dollar pay raise for teachers.
Unon President Larry Carter says part of the $39M would help keep increased benefits costs from a pay raise from falling back on educators, while the rest would go to the kids.
He says 70 percent would be devoted to school supplies and technology to help support students who have learning difficulties.
Both the House and Senate appear to agree on at least a 1,000-dollar teacher and 500 dollar support personnel pay raise.
Carter says Louisiana educators are about 2,200 dollars below the southern regional average. He says teacher unions, Governor Edwards and some lawmakers have a two-year plan to put them back at the average.
He says a $1,000 dollar raise this year, and another $1,000 dollars next year would put them close to the southern regional average. "We know it’s not enough" says Carter. "Teachers, we believe, deserve way more than that.”
The union president says his members, though frustrated that their pay is notably lower than other states, are willing to take baby steps , for now, toward a better wage.