HARVEY, La. — Jefferson Parish school teachers and support staff will not be getting the pay raises they had hoped for.
That's after voters rejected a new property tax on Saturday’s ballot.
So, what are the next steps?
For now, Jefferson Parish teachers will continue to earn less than teachers in surrounding parishes. The new property tax on Saturday's ballot failed by only 317 votes. Now the Jefferson Federation of Teachers is wondering what will happen in a system that already has a shortage of school employees.
“With this millage not passing, it's going to be interesting to see how the district is going to go about retaining and recruiting employees,” said Sandra Hauer
President of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers.
And the union is concerned that the shortage could get worse.
“It's getting to be burnout, and that's why we're seeing the number of resignations, and we're seeing people leave the profession,” she said. “This is something that we're going to have to talk to the school board about, because our people are right now at the point where they are overworked and underpaid.”
The school board is not talking today, nor are members giving any sort of public statement. We were told by text, that messages were sent to staff and families of students but were not told what was in that message. The union has not heard if there is another plan going forward.
“Without a plan B, it's going to be interesting to see what are they going to do to make working in Jefferson Parish an attractive endeavor.”
There are people who say they voted against this millage, because they just can't afford to pay more with inflation and the cost of everything, but that is the exact same reason why the teachers say they needed this raise.
A couple of voters waiting in a Metairie school car line told us they voted for the tax.
“Because I think that the teachers deserve it. I have always believed that teachers are the most unappreciated and underpaid people,” said a student’s grandmother.
“I believe we need good teachers, and I think they deserve a raise. I think they are underpaid, overworked, and I'm very disappointed it didn't go through,” said a staff member’s sister.
One voter in favor of the tax told us, no matter what career we chose and are living today, it started in a classroom with a teacher.
If the tax had passed, it would have given certified teachers a raise of $8,300 a year.
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