Pointe Coupee Board Freezes Pay To Avoid Layoffs

NEW ROADS, La. (AP) — For the second consecutive year, the Pointe Coupee Parish School Board had to freeze the salaries of the school system's employees. It's a move officials say will save $330,000 in the district's 2012-13 fiscal year budget.

But the board's recent decision has some members fearing the school district will continue to lose quality teachers to neighboring parishes.

Board member Brandon Bergeron tells The Advocate (http://bit.ly/LIKTT3 ) the district lost several teachers this year to the West Feliciana School District, which pays its teachers $7,000 to $8,000 more per year than the Pointe Coupee rate.

School Superintendent Linda D'Amico said she's sure morale may be down among employees, but doesn't know much else the district can do since revenue is not increasing.

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