State lawmakers have approved Governor Jeff Landry’s plan to reallocate $168 million from the public school operations budget to fund stipends for teachers and school support workers. But a state judge has temporarily blocked the plan from taking effect. One of the plaintiffs in the case, former Central school Superintendent Michael Faulk says Landry doesn’t have the power to reallocate the money.
“They were directing funds that were allocated through the MFP, and the only one that can do that, according to the Constitution, is BESE,” Faulk explained.
The failure of Constitutional Amendment 3 in the May election left the state scrambling to find money to pay a t$2,000 stipend for teachers and a $1,000 stipend for school support workers.
Earlier this month, Landry issued an executive order redirecting $168 million from the public school funding budget and using that money so teachers do not receive a pay cut. Legislators overwhelming voted for the plan virtually. But Faulk says state law requires the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to recommend the amount of funding that goes to public schools.
“BESE has to submit it to the legislature. Whatever they submit can be approved or rejected. If it’s rejected, then it reverts back to the last approved MFP,” Faulk noted.
Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier released a joint statement saying, “The Legislature did not want to see a reduction in teacher pay this year.”
Louisiana teachers have received stipends for three years now in lieu of a raise. The budget redirection would cut state education spending by roughly 5%. Faulk says Governor Landry cannot force a budget cut this way.
“It has to be done through the MFP, unless it’s done as a stipend. Then, if it’s done as a stipend, it comes outside of the MFP budget,” Faulk said.
The order would have gone into effect July 1. A hearing in the case blocking it will be held Monday.