TALLULAH, La. (KNOE) – A packed room of educators, staff and community members gathered Monday, Dec. 16 at the Madison Parish School Board meeting in Tallulah to address pressing concerns about pay discrepancies and other financial issues affecting district employees.
Several school staff members raised issues about inconsistencies in COVID-19 relief stipends (ESSER). Although board members initially voted for all teachers to receive $4,000 stipends, numerous employees reported receiving significantly less—some as low as $2,000—or none at all.
Board Member Eddie Fountain expressed frustration, saying, “I said all teachers and people in here know what I said. Then they came back and said they got 3,000 and then down to 2,000.”
In addition to stipend concerns, employees reported discovering gaps in their health and life insurance coverage. Although the school district switched insurance providers in October, many staff members say they only learned in December that they were not covered, …