(The Center Square) – Employees and union leaders urged the Caddo Parish School Board on Tuesday night to prioritize raises for teachers and support staff, arguing stagnant pay is worsening retention problems across the district.
During the board’s public comment period, paraprofessional Angela Strong told members many support employees are working multiple jobs to make ends meet.
“I am here hoping that there may be a raise in our budget for paraprofessionals,” Strong said.
Strong said neighboring Bossier Parish School Board offers paraprofessionals higher starting pay and bonuses throughout the year.
“Bossier gave their paraprofessionals $24,000 if you have a high school diploma, plus they give bonuses during the year,” Strong said.
Later in the meeting, Red River United President Jordan Thomas told board members educators have not received a local pay raise since 2017 despite rising costs and increased staffing shortages.
“Teachers and school employees in Caddo Parish have not received a local pay raise since 2017,” Thomas said.
Louisiana voters rejected Amendment 3, which would have restructured education funding and helped finance permanent teacher pay raises. It would have required the state to dissolve three education trust funds to pay off employee retirement debt early for K-12 school districts and universities. The districts were to use the savings to give teachers and support workers raises of $2,250 and $1,125.
“The failure of Amendment 3 does not erase the urgent need for local action,” Thomas said.
Thomas also pointed to recent academic gains across the district, including:
• 30 schools increasing performance scores.
• 12 schools being named top gain schools.
• seven schools receiving opportunity honors recognition.
• and the district maintaining a B rating with a performance score of 76.6.
“Those accomplishments did not happen by accident. They happened because of teachers,” Thomas said.
He warned the district has more than 400 open certified positions, calling the vacancies a major recruitment and retention concern.
“That should alarm every single person in this room,” Thomas said. “It is a warning sign that we are struggling to recruit and retain educators.”
He also criticized disparities in the district’s salary schedule, arguing veteran educators in Caddo Parish are in some cases earning less than newly hired teachers from outside districts with similar experience levels.
“How is that equitable? How is that right?” Thomas asked.
The union leader urged the board to pursue both immediate raises and long-term salary schedule changes, even if doing so requires seeking voter approval for additional funding.
“Our educators have delivered results for this school district,” Thomas said. “Now, it is time for the school district to deliver for them.”
