Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced his plan to address teacher pay raises.
Landry, joined by state lawmakers, Senate President Cameron Henry, and Speaker Phillip DeVillier, announced on Tuesday the creation of a bipartisan MFP Pay Raise Task Force.
“For too many years, teachers have been promised ‘next year.’ That ends now.” said Governor Landry. “Temporary stipends are not a strategy. Permanent raises must be built into the formula. And we are committed to delivering a permanent raise and fixing the system the right way for our teachers-all while not raising taxes”
This task force is focused on delivering permanent pay raises for teachers and support staff without raising taxes.
Landry says the task force will also conduct a top-to-bottom review of the State’s Minimum Foundation Program to develop a long-term, sustainable funding structure for teacher pay raises.
The task force will include legislative leaders, BESE representatives, educators, school systems, and business leaders.
The announcement of the task force comes two weeks after voters rejected Amendment 3, which proposed dissolving public education trust funds in order to have the money for a permanent teacher salary raise.
Amid failing, the proposal received some backlash with educators arguing they should receive a traditionally funded raise. The permanent raises were intended to replace the temporary stipends that teachers and support staff have been receiving in recent years.
After the amendment failed, Landry threatened to cut any future raises for government employees.
READ MORE:Gov. Jeff Landry announces bipartisan MFP Pay Raise Task Force to secure teacher pay raises
