Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has already backed a $1,500 dollar pay raise, but the head of a state teachers union told WWL’s Tommy Tucker the governor would support a $2,000 raise if revenue estimates come back higher than they are currently.
“If there is more revenues recognized by the board that actually looks at these revenues coming into the state (the Revenue Estimating Conference) the Governor as well as the State Superintendent and BESE said that we are willing to advocate for a $2,000 pay raise instead of $1,500,” said Louisiana Federation of Teachers head Larry Carter.
Currently the Governor has backed a $750 support staff raise. Carter said that would rise to $1,000 should higher revenues be recognized.
To be clear that’s still no guarantee that state educators will get any raise whatsoever this year. Any raise would still need to be budgeted in and approved by the Legislature. Should it come to pass Carter feels it would be a strong step towards helping retain and recruit people to the profession.
“We’re finding where it’s hard to attract the best and brightest to education with the compensation packages that are out there,” said Carter.
