SPALS
Speech Pathologists & Audiologists
in Louisiana Schools, Inc.
P.O. Box 12177
Lake Charles, LA 70612
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SPALS Speech Pathologists & Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, Inc. P.O. Box 12177
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update 7/15/2009 Congratulations to SLPs and Audiologists in Louisiana for securing funding for the Salary Supplement for 2009-2010. Due to your extensive efforts with the Legislature, the Superintendent of Education, and the Governor, the Salary Supplement was included in the state budget and survived the threat of a veto. The amount will probably be comparable to last year's ($3200). Continued efforts will be needed in the future to obtain FULL funding ($5000) and to ensure that we are included in future budgets. Please contact your legislators, the State Superintendent, and the Governor to thank them for their support and to ask them to remember us in the future.
update 6/8/2009 As of Thursday, June 11, the House of Representatives has approved House Bill 1 (the state budget) with the changes that the Senate made last week. The salary supplement for SLPs, audiologists, social workers, and school psychologists HAS BEEN included (probably at the rates that were paid last year, i.e. $3200 for SLPs and audiologists). This is positively phenomenal and members of the House and Senate should be thanked profusely. They have listened to our calls for support and they have responded. The next hurdle is the Governor's veto pen. He is likely to use his line item veto to eliminate expenditures which he does not want in the budget, and he will probably take the advice of the Superintendent of Education on what to veto in the education budget. Therefore it is imperative that you (and everyone you know) contact Governor Jindal and Superintendent Pastorek to ask them to support our inclusion in the state budget. Be courteous, be polite, and ask them to support us. We will continue to monitor the progress of House Bill 1 and will keep you informed. Thank you for all your work up to now, and please continue in your efforts for our professions.
Update 6/8/2009 Salary Supplement Added to HB 1! On Friday afternoon, an amendment to HB 1 (appropriations bill) to fund salary supplements was offered by Senators Nevers, Walsworth, and Donahue. The amendment passed by a vote of 19-15 so as of TODAY, our supplement is in the bill. YEA!!, but- (There was wording in the amendment that the supplements would be apportioned to the groups based on last year’s appropriation. We are not sure, but this could mean that we would again receive the $3,200 rather than the full $5,000.) BUT… IT IS NOT OVER YET--- HB1 has to go back to the house for concurrence with the amendments added in the Senate. It is expected that the house will NOT concur and HB1 will go to a conference committee (3 members of the house and 3 members of the Senate). This conference committee will iron out the differences in the bills (including the salary supplement) so we still have more work to do! As for now- please e-mail a thank you to: 1. Senators Nevers, Walsworth, and Donahue for “authoring HB 1 amendment # 2666 which provided statewide funding for salary supplements for nationally certified professionals in public schools”. 2. Senators who supported the amendment for “supporting HB 1 amendment # 2666 which provided statewide funding for salary supplements for nationally certified professionals in public schools” n Adley (Bienville, Webster) adleyr@legis.state.la.us n Gray Evans (New Orleans) grayc@legis.state.la.us n Quinn (Metairie, St. Tammany) quinnj@legis.state.la.us n Crowe (Slidell) crowea@legis.state.la.us n Kostelka (Monroe, also Jackson, Lincoln) kostelka@legis.state.la.us n Riser (Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin, LaSalle, and West Feliciana parishes and parts of Avoyelles, Ouachita, Rapides, and Richland parishes) risern@legis.state.la.us n Donahue (Mandeville) donahuej@legis.state.la.us n Long (Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn, Grant and portions of Rapides and Red River Parishes) longg@legis.state.la.us n Shaw (Shreveport/Bossier City) shawb@legis.state.la.us n Dupre (Houma) lasen20@legis.state.la.us n Martiny (Metairie) martinyd@legis.state.la.us n Smith (Leesville, Vernon, Beauragard) smithj@legis.state.la.us n Erdey (Livingston) erdeyd@legis.state.la.us n Morrish (Jennings) morrishd@legis.state.la.us n Walsworth (Monroe) walsworthm@legis.state.la.us n Gautreaux B (Morgan City) lasen21@legis.state.la.us n Mount (Lake Charles) lasen27@legis.state.la.us n Gautreaux N (Abbeville) gautreauxn@legis.state.la.us n Nevers (Bogalusa) neversb@legis.state.la.us
updated 5/19/09 Dear
LSHA Members
Nevertheless, there is the possibility of gaining support on the Senate side.
We must continue working to obtain that support and ultimately action and
success.
Contact
all Members of the Senate Finance Committee (Click
here for a
List) Contact
all members of the Senate (Click
here for a List)
Specifically Contact your actual Senator
The
Senate Finance Committee is likely to schedule hearings on HB1 next week,
possibly as early as Wednesday. We have
just a few days to get in touch with our Senators. Please
copy me on any communications you have so we can monitor who has been reached. The other groups are doing the same.
Your
help is needed- please act now!
Steve
Harris LSHA
Legislative Liaison
updated 4/29/09 The Appropriations Committee met on Tuesday, April 28 and discussed the salary supplement amendment. Rep Harrison withdrew it rather than have a vote on it, so he can raise it again.
As the discussion went, he wanted to take $6 million from an after school LEAP remediation fund. That fund has $9 million and investigations have indicated that the money has not been appropriately spent. The discussion of Rep Harrison’s amendment included the differences in funding sources for teachers and counselors as compared to the psychologists, social workers, and SLP/As. The way the teachers and counselors is funded is as a mandate, so the school systems are required to pay the supplement and the state reimburses them. We are funded directly by the state, as funds are appropriated. That is why we have to fight this battle every year.
Rep Harrison stated that he thought we should all be funded equally with the teachers and counselors and that the funding should be made permanent. He was very well informed about all the issues and was a strong and eloquent advocate for us.
The problem arose when the Chairman of the committee asked about the sources of the money. The switch of after school tutoring program money to the salary supplement was presented as Education money going within Education, but the after school program is not MFP funded. This means that the money can be considered "General Fund" money, not dedicated money, and available to be directed anywhere. After a few more questions about the exact amount of money that was misspent for which Rep Harrison said he was waiting for the answers, he withdrew the amendment. It sounded like if he had forced a vote at that point, he would not have had the Chairman's support and may not have been successful. By withdrawing the amendment, he can raise it again.
This is all very complicated, and once again, I think we will be on tenterhooks throughout the legislative session. On the negative side, the Governor and the Supt of Ed do not seem to feel we are a priority; on the positive side, we have raised awareness of the issue to a high level in the legislature, and we are working together with other professional groups. It's back to "Keep those cards and letters coming in, folks" and being ready to respond quickly.
One thing that YOU can do is contact your personal Representative and Senator, as well as the House Appropriations Committee (see below). Additionally, contact the Governor, the State Superintendent of Education (Paul Pastorek paul.pastorek@la.gov), and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE – contact below).
For the Appropriations Committee, the subject line should read: “Support Rep Joe Harrison’s proposed Amendment to HB1 to fund all salary supplements.”
The text of e-mail can be short and to the point:
Representative Joe Harrison is planning to submit an amendment to HB1 to fund salary supplements for all nationally certified professionals in public schools. Please support his amendment.
Here are the Appropriations Committee members: James ("Jim") Fannin - Chairman - Jonesboro, LA - (318) 259-6620
Eddie Lambert - Vice Chair - Gonzales, LA - (225) 644-4947
Simone Champagne - Member - Jeanerette, LA - (337) 276-4916
Patrick Connick - Member - Marrero, LA - (504) 371-0240
Patrick Cortez - Member - Lafayette, LA - (337) 993-7430
Noble Ellington - Member - Winnsboro, LA - (318) 435-7313
Brett Geymann - Member - Lake Charles, LA - (337) 491-2315
Elbert Guillory - Member - Opelousas, LA - (337) 943-2457
Joe Harrison - Member - Labadieville, LA - (800) 935-2081
Lowell Hazel - Member - Pineville, LA - (318) 767-6082
John LaBruzzo - Member - Metairie, LA - (504) 833-7788
Bernard LeBas - Member - Ville Platte, LA - (337) 363-0152
Walt Leger - Member - New Orleans, LA - (504) 556-9970
Anthony Ligi - Member - Metairie, LA - (504) 456-3173
Thomas McVea - Member - Jackson, LA - (225) 634-7470
James Morris - Member - Oil City, LA - (318) 995-6852
Kevin Pearson - Member - Slidell, LA - (985) 646-6487
Karen Peterson - Member - New Orleans, LA - (504) 568-8346
John Schroder - Member - Covington, LA - (985) 893-6262
Mert Smiley - Member - Vincent, LA - (225) 698-9694
Gary Smith - Member - Norco, LA - (985) 764-9122
Patricia Smith - Member - Baton Rouge, LA - (225) 342-7106
Charmaine Stiaes - Member - New Orleans, LA - (504) 942-7835
Jim Tucker - Member - Terrytown, LA - (504) 393-5646
Bodi White - Member - Denham Springs, LA - (225) 791-2199 or (800) 408-9764
Patrick Williams - Member - Shreveport, LA - (318) 676-5990
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Mr. Dale Bayard 7th BESE District 1000 S. Huntington Sulphur, LA 70663 (337) 527-8691 (O) (337) 527-0514 (FAX)
Mr. John L. Bennett Member-at-Large 525 Oaks Ave. Port Allen, LA 70767 (225) 342-5840 (O) (225) 342-5843 (FAX)
Ms. Glenny Lee Buquet 3rd BESE District 1309 Bayou Black Drive Houma, LA 70360 (985) 876-5216 (H) (985) 868-7919 (FAX)
Ms. Penny Dastugue Member-at-Large 10 Serenity Drive Mandeville, LA 70471 (225) 342-5840 (O) (225) 342-5843 (FAX)
Mr. James D. Garvey, Jr. 1st BESE District Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann, & Papale, LLP One Galleria Blvd., Suite 1400 Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 836-6500 (O) (504) 836-6565 (Fax)
Ms. Louella Givens 2nd BESE District/Secretary-Treasurer 2244 11th Street (Office) Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 892-6300 (O) (985) 892-6600 (FAX)
Mr. Keith Guice 5th BESE District/President 2307 Valencia Boulevard Monroe, LA 71201 (318) 388-0973 (H) (225) 342-5843 (Fax)
Ms. Linda Johnson 8th BESE District P.O. Box 866 Plaquemine, LA 70765 (225) 687-2308 (H) (225) 687-2308 (FAX)
Mr. Walter Lee 4th BESE District/Vice-President 201 Crosby Street Mansfield, LA 70152 (318) 872-3993 (O) (318) 872-1324 (FAX)
Ms. Tammie A. McDaniel Member-at-Large P.O. Box 94064 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064 (318) 244-5335 (O) (225) 342-5843 (FAX)
Mr. Chas Roemer 6th BESE District P.O. Box 94064, Capitol Station Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 342-5840 (O) (225) 342-5843 (FAX)
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