News

No salary increase for Parks mayor, police chief and clerk

The main item on the agenda at the Parks town council meeting last week was salary increases for the mayor, police chief and city clerk.
While that item was first on the agenda, it was actually the last thing the council discussed.
Mayor Kevin Kately said that there hadn’t been a raise since 2016 when a 10 percent increase was given.
Councilwoman Myra Yvonne Narcisse motioned for a five percent raise for each person.

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SIGN-ON BONUS – St. Martin Parish School President Frederick Wiltz talks at the school board’s Feb. 7 meet- ing about a one-time $1,000 signing bonus for certified teachers who agree to work at the St. Martin Parish Early STEAM Academy or the St. Martin Parish STEAM Acad- emy that the school system is bringing into fruition. Wiltz said that there is a plan to help draw certified teachers to schools in the parish that are struggling to hire and retain those teachers as well. (Photo by Chris Landry)

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CERTIFIED TEACHERS – District 7 School Board member Richard Potier asks schools President Frederick Wiltz at the board’s Feb. 7 meeting if the school system is working to hire certified teachers for schools other than the new magnet schools that are coming to the parish. Wiltz told Potier that there is a plan for that purpose, which will be brought up at a later school board meeting. (Chris Landry)

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EDUCATORS RISING – Shawne Taylor, right, and Andrea Broussard listen to Educators Rising program students speak at the St. Martin Parish School Board meeting on Feb. 7. Taylor is the Educators Rising instructor and Broussard is the math and science instructional coach. Educators Rising is a program that guides students on a path from high school through college into the teaching profession. (Chris Landry)

School board addressing need for certified teachers

Breaux Bridge – The St. Martin Parish School Board addressed the need for certified teachers at several points during its Feb. 7 meeting

The finance committee recommended a $1,000 sign-on bonus for certified teachers who commit to employment at the parish’s two planned magnet schools

The school board then approved that recommendation at its regular meeting for both the St. Martin Early STEAM Academy and the St. Martin STEAM Academy

Water leaks strain St. Martinville crews

City workers here have repaired around 40 leaking water lines over the past several weeks as drought conditions cause ground shifting that disrupts the city’s aging water distribution system.

    Mayor Jason Willis said Monday crews are still learning of leaks that  need to be repaired.

    Expenses involved with the repairs are putting a drain on the city budget the mayor says.

Breaux Bridge salary hikes questioned

City Councilman Neil “Sam” Melancon is questioning whether the council here followed the proper procedure in approving raises for the city’s elected officials at its Sept. 12 meeting.
    The council approved amendments to the 2023-24 budget granting  salary increases for the mayor, police chief, city clerk and themselves, but Melancon says the Lawrason Act mandates that any changes in compensation of “the mayor, aldermen, clerk, chief of police, and all other municipal officers ... shall be by ordinance ...”

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Teche Today

P.O. Box 69
St. Martinville, LA 70582
Phone: 337-394-6232
Fax: 337-394-7511