Speech Pathologists & Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, Inc.
P.O. Box 12177
Lake Charles, LA 70612
|
Speech Pathologists & Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, Inc. |
|
|
Sample Letter to Senator Copy the text and insert your information.
Your name Contact Information
Capitol Office P.O. Box Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Dear ______________,
This letter is to inform you of an injustice happening in our school systems across the state. During the 2008 legislative session, $5000 supplements for nationally certified school social workers, school psychologists and speech pathologists were funded. It has come to my attention that this year, all of the $5000 supplements have been cut from the executive budget including those for nationally certified teachers and counselors. The nationally certified school teachers and counselors will continue to be funded through the local school boards regardless of reimbursement from the Department of Education simply because of the way Section A of the law reads. Most local school boards will not fund the supplements for school social workers, speech pathologists or school psychologists because legally they do not have to unless the Department of Education has funding available for reimbursement.
I am asking for your help in reinstating the $5000 supplement for nationally certified school social workers, psychologists and speech pathologists which can occur two ways:
To appropriate the funding as it was last year.
To change the way the law is written to reflect that of the nationally certified school teachers and counselors so the local school boards would be required to pay the supplement regardless when monies were available for reimbursement by the Department of Education.
Education is so important to the future of our state, and our economy. School social workers, psychologists, and speech pathologists are in the schools every day teaching students how to communicate effectively, providing social skills to those children who are not taught them at home, assisting teachers with managing behavior problems so learning can take place in the classroom, etc. By cutting the $5000 supplement, these professionals may be tempted to seek employment in another area such as health care or private practice. We should reward those who took the time to go through the rigorous process to obtain national certification. We should want the best professionals in our schools, working with our students who are our future. Please help us to continue receiving the $5000 supplement so we can continue to provide these vital services to our students and stimulate the economy of Louisiana for years to come. Thank you very much for your time. I have included copies of the laws so you can see the difference in how they were written (highlighted), as well as the Attorney General’s statement regarding the local school board’s responsibility to fund the supplements for teachers and counselors.
Sincerely,
Speech Pathologist:
Social Worker:
RS 17:421.8 §421.8. Supplements to salaries of school counselors having certain certificates issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors A. Effective for the 2001-2002 school year and thereafter, a full-time school counselor who holds both a valid Louisiana counseling credential approved and issued by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and a National Certified School Counselor credential issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors and who is employed by a school board to provide services to students shall receive from the school board, in addition to annual salary, an annual amount of five thousand dollars with such additional amount to be distributed in the same manner as the annual salary. To receive the salary supplement provided by this Section, an otherwise eligible person shall have been awarded the initial credential issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors prior to July 1, 2013. B.(1) Any school counselor verified to have been awarded the certificate issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors shall be paid the initial supplement beginning in the school year immediately following the school year in which the school counselor is awarded the certificate provided he submits appropriate documentation to his employing school board. (2) The school board shall submit the appropriate documentation as required by the Department of Education no later than August first of each year for verification of the documentation and in order to receive reimbursement as provided in Subsection C of this Section. C. Subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose, the amount of the salary supplement provided by a school board to a school counselor pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be reimbursed to the school board annually by the state Department of Education out of funds appropriated for such purpose. However, no such reimbursement shall exceed five thousand dollars per year per school counselor. D. In addition to any other requirements of this Section, to receive the salary supplement provided by this Section for the fall school term of the 2001-2002 school year an otherwise eligible person shall have been awarded the initial credential issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors before July 1, 2001, and shall provide such documentation of validity to the school board prior to September 1, 2001. E. The salary supplement of any school counselor authorized by this Section shall continue for a period not to exceed the term of the national professional certificate as determined by the National Board for Certified Counselors, which is a period not to exceed five years. However, such supplement shall continue in effect without interruption as long as the school counselor provides to the school board documentation of renewal by the national board. F. For the purposes of this Section, "school board" means the governing authority of any public elementary or secondary school. Acts 2001, No. 682, §1, eff. June 25, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 474, §1, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts 2006, No. 151, §1. RS 17:421.10
§421.10. Supplements to salaries of school social workers having certain certificates issued by the National Association of Social Workers A. Effective for the 2003-2004 school year and thereafter, a full-time school social worker who holds both a valid professional ancillary certificate in school social work issued by the state Department of Education and the Certified School Social Work Specialist credential issued by the National Association of Social Workers and who is employed by a school board to provide social work services to students shall receive from the school board, in addition to annual salary, an annual amount of five thousand dollars with such additional amount to be distributed in the same manner as the annual salary provided the amount for such supplement has been appropriated to the state Department of Education for reimbursement pursuant to Subsection C of this Section. B.(1) Any school social worker verified to have been awarded the Certified School Social Wor k Specialist credential issued by the National Association of Social Workers by June thirtieth shall be paid the initial supplement beginning in the school year immediately following such date provided he submits appropriate documentation to the employing school board. (2) The school board shall submit the appropriate documentation as required by the Department of Education no later than a date to be determined no later than September 15, 2004, by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for verification of the documentation and in order to receive reimbursement as provided in Subsection C of this Section. C. Subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose, the amount of the salary supplement provided by a school board to a school social worker pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be reimbursed to the school board annually by the state Department of Education out of funds appropriated for such purpose. However, no such reimbursement shall exceed five thousand dollars per year per school social worker. D. In addition to any other requirements of this Section, to receive the salary supplement provided by this Section for the fall school term of the 2003-2004 school year, an otherwise eligible person shall have been awarded the initial credential issued by the National Association of Social Workers before July 1, 2003, and shall provide such documentation of validity to the school board prior to September 1, 2003. E. The salary supplement of any school social worker authorized by this Section shall continue for a period not to exceed the term of the national certificate as determined by the National Association of Social Workers, which is a period not to exceed two years. However, such supplement shall continue in effect without interruption as long as the school social worker provides to the school board documentation of renewal by the national board. F.(1) The supplements provided for in this Section shall be implemented over a three-year period as follows: (a) Those who are entitled to a supplement under this Section in the 2003-2004 school year shall receive one thousand dollars. (b) Those who are entitled to a supplement under this Section in the 2004-2005 school year shall receive two thousand five hundred dollars. (c) Those who are entitled to a supplement under this Section in the 2005-2006 school year and thereafter shall receive the supplement otherwise provided for in this Section. (2) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for implementation of payments shall not extend the period of eligibility to receive payments. G. For the purposes of this Section, "school board" means the governing authority of any public elementary or secondary school. Acts 2003, No. 937, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 243, §1, eff. June 15, 2004. NOTE: See Acts 2003, No. 937, §2, relative to implementation of the Act and eligibility for the salary supplement.
Email from the Attorney General:
There can be no question but that Act 682, by its own terms, purports to require School boards to pay qualified counselors the supplement referred to therein. Although Act 682 addresses the possibility of state reimbursement to school boards for payment of the supplement, the requirement imposed upon school boards to pay the supplement is not contingent upon the receipt of reimbursement from the state. Our research did not reveal, nor is this office aware, of any provision of law which would relieve a school board of the responsibility of providing the supplement required by law .
Based upon the foregoing, it is the opinion of this office that each school board has the responsibility to pay its qualified counselors the supplement required by Act 682.
We trust the foregoing to be of assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we can be of further assistance in other areas of the law. Yours very truly, RICHARD P. IEYOUB Attorney General |
|
