Louisiana Education Board Splits with Governor on Financing

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's top school board is backing a nearly $4 billion financing plan for public schools.

The formula would boost spending beyond Gov. John Bel Edwards' budget proposal, but steer only a portion of the new dollars to teacher pay raises in districts where salaries are below the regional average.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education proposes to increase the K-12 schools funding formula by about $107 million in the budget year that begins July 1.

That's about $41 million more than the governor's plan. Board members approved the proposal without objection Tuesday.

After one final vote from board members, the formula moves next to the Legislature for consideration.