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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 191
BY SENATOR MCPHERSON
SCHOOLS. Requests the governing authority of each public elementary and secondary
school to consider implementation of the salary supplement, as provided in law, in the form
of a salary increase for certain national board certified school personnel.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school2
to consider implementing the salary supplement, as provided in law, for national3
board certified school psychologists, speech-language audiologists and pathologists,4
and school social workers, in the form of a salary increase.5
WHEREAS, school psychologists, speech-language audiologists and pathologists,6
and school social workers are school professionals employed by local school boards who7
specialize in working with at-risk and special needs children and adolescents, as well as their8
teachers and families, and are critical to ensuring that students have a positive and rewarding9
educational experience, while helping to strengthen connections between home and school;10
and11
WHEREAS, with specialized training in education, psychology, social work, speech-12
language pathology, these professionals employ their training and skills in collaboration with13
educators, parents, and other professionals to help every student to succeed academically,14
socially, and emotionally and to learn in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment; and15
WHEREAS, there is a critical shortage of these professionals who have earned16
advanced academic degrees and are national board certified in their respective areas of17
expertise; and18 SR NO. 191
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WHEREAS, these school professionals are important to the overall success of the1
student at school and a priority should be placed on compensating those professionals who2
have achieved a national board certification in their profession; and3
WHEREAS, the process to attain national board certification is considered very4
rigorous and time consuming and can be very costly for these professionals; and5
WHEREAS, the salaries for such employees are eligible for funding through the6
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act administered by the United States Department7
of Education; and8
WHEREAS, such school professionals are required to provide services to students9
at school for a ten-month period, while the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act10
requires them to be available to students, parents, and the community on a year-round basis;11
and12
WHEREAS, an increase in salary of five thousand dollars is justified to reward these13
professionals for the quality services they provide to at-risk and special needs students in14
Louisiana schools; and 15
WHEREAS, state law requires local school boards to reward these school16
professionals with salary supplements as an incentive to increase the number of full-time17
national board certified school psychologists, speech-language audiologists and pathologists,18
and school social workers; and19
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:421.9 requires that an employing school board pay an annual20
salary supplement not to exceed five thousand dollars per year to a full-time school21
psychologist who holds both a valid Louisiana ancillary certificate and a National Certified22
School Psychologist credential issued by the National School Psychology Certification23
Board, however, the school board will be reimbursed by the state Department of Education24
only if funds are appropriated for this purpose; and25
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:421.10 requires that an employing school board pay an annual26
salary supplement of five thousand dollars per year to a full-time school social worker who27
holds both a valid professional ancillary certificate in school social work and the Certified28
School Social Work Specialist credential issued by the National Association of Social29
Workers, however, the school board will be reimbursed by the state Department of30 SR NO. 191
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Education only if funds are appropriated for this purpose; and1
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:421.11 provides that the employing school board shall pay an2
annual salary supplement of five thousand dollars per year to a full-time school3
speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds both a valid Louisiana credential, a4
license issued by the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and5
Audiology, and a Certificate of Clinical Competence issued by the American6
Speech-Language Hearing Association, however, the school board will be reimbursed by the7
state Department of Education only if funds are appropriated for this purpose; and8
WHEREAS, school psychologists, speech-language audiologists and pathologists,9
and school social workers have a positive impact on at-risk and special needs students and10
take an active role in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies that enable11
students to gain the maximum benefit from the normal educational classroom environment.12
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana13
does hereby urge and request the governing authority of each public elementary and14
secondary school to consider implementing the salary supplement, as provided in law, in the15
form of a salary increase of five thousand dollars for national board certified school16
psychologists, speech-language audiologists and pathologists, and school social workers.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does18
hereby urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to take19
such steps as may be necessary with regard to the classification of such employees to ensure20
that the professionals are paid for a ten month budget period.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the22
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and to the Louisiana23
School Boards Association.24
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sherri H. Breaux.
DIGEST
McPherson SR No. 191
Requests governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school to consider
implementing the salary supplement, as provided in law, in the form of a salary increase in
the amount of $5,000 for national board certified school psychologists, speech-language
audiologists and pathologists, and school social workers. SR NO. 191
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Further requests BESE to take such steps as may be necessary with regard to the
classification of such employees to ensure that the professionals are paid for a ten month
budget period.