The Calcasieu Parish School Board approved a proposed pay supplement for all employees Wednesday night that was met with smiling faces.
All active full time employees of the Calcasieu parish school system will receive a one-time monetary supplement of $1,250 on their November paychecks.
Although no one spoke against granting the bonus, there were a few concerns voiced concerning the system's budget.
Budget/fiscal committee management committee secretary and Chief Financial Officer Karl Bruchhaus explained that the school district's almost $300 million general fund is vulnerable.
"At the end of every fiscal year, we review the budget, noting the unreserved, undesignated funds balance to see what the supplement will be. It changes from year to year. This year we have financial obligations that were unforeseen because of the hurricanes. After the supplement, there is a healthy percentage of money left to provide for whatever FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) holds us responsible for."
Board member Mack Dellafosse commented "anytime we can give teachers a bonus, that's good."
Joe Andrepont, board member representing Sulphur schools, echoed Dellafosse's sentiment and added, "Our schools need stuff too. I know the value in showing our employees that they are worth it, but let's not give all of the surplus to employees", in an attempt to remind everyone in attendance that textbooks, equipment, school supplies, and even copy paper are in short supply at some school sites.
The fifteen-member school board unanimously approved the proposal.
In other board news, Dr. LaVonne Sheffield, Superintendent of Recovery School District of Louisiana (RSD-LA) presented an overview of the program that will make recommendations on the future of Reynaud Middle School, a parish school that could be taken over by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) because of poor school performance scores.  BESE will make a decision based on recommendations by RSD-LA on December 4 of this year, although the plan would not take effect until July 1, 2009.