AMY SZPARA

RESERVE – Mass confusion claimed a large portion of Thursday night’s St. John the Baptist Parish School Board meeting, as board members, legal council, teachers and the public tried to make out what was or was not being voted on concerning salary schedules. After a motion to vote on the schedule was passed, two amendments were made, then a motion withdrawn and another motion presented, the board decided to table the issue for a special meeting to be held this week. Easier decisions were made, however, including the approval of the new superintendent’s contract. Mike Coburn, former principal of Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School, will begin as superintendent of schools July 1 and will earn a yearly salary of $93,336, a little over $7,500 more than the current superintendent makes. Chris Donaldson, who was recognized during the school system retirement announcements, will leave at the end of this month. After teachers were given a $1,000 salary raise in February, money received from a quarter-cent sales tax approved by the public, salary schedule issues became somewhat baffling. The issue of raising salaries for administrators came into effect, and what the board thought had been decided, keeps coming up again and again. Teachers will receive an additional $1,000 this school year to equal a total of a $2,000 raise to come from the millage that residents voted for. Verbiage in the salary schedule, however, states that administrators should get a raise if teachers do. The problem arises when the highest paid teachers come close to making what principals and assistant principals make. The entry-level salary for a teacher is now a little more than $27,000. “It was clear to the public who was going to get the raise. The public made the decision,” said Matthew Ory, board member. “We went to the public, and the public made a decision. “They knew at that time who would get it and who would not. It’s over with. Changing it tonight is a total disrespect to the people.” East St. John High School Principal Debra Schum addressed the board at Thursday night’s meeting, stating that no one has clearly stated what will be done to raise administrator salaries. “Verbiage” was the word Thursday night, as the room hashed out whether a statement in the salary schedule requires that administrators be raised when teachers are. “What I ask for is clarification. This was not a phrase to misguide people. It was intended to be part of what the pay is,” said Schum. The special meeting will be held this Thursday at the Leon Godchaux Grammar School Cafeteria at 6 p.m. Also tabled was the St. John Parish playground equipment inspection report. According to the report, the playgrounds need a lot of work to be up to current safety standards. That issue will be discussed by the board at the first July meeting.