BENTON, La. — Bossier Parish school employees will receive additional one-time payments in January after the Bossier Parish School Board approved a New Year Bridge Supplement for all full-time employees.
Educators and other certificated employees will receive $2,000, while support personnel will receive $1,000. The payments are scheduled for Jan. 8 and are intended to help bridge the gap between the district’s Dec. 18 and Jan. 25 paychecks.
The latest payments mark the third supplement increase approved by the School Board for full-time employees since June. Combined, those actions will provide $2,875 to certificated employees and $1,625 to support personnel, according to the school system.
The board’s action comes after Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order in June redirecting $168 million in Minimum Foundation Program funding to provide one-time stipends during the 2026-27 school year. Under the order, classroom teachers are eligible for $2,000 and support staff for $1,000.
The school system said the state action excluded several categories of employees who had received supplements in previous years, including school nurses, counselors, therapists, principals and assistant principals. The Bossier Parish School Board opted to extend its New Year supplement to all employees.
“Our board deserves to be commended for taking this action that goes above and beyond what was required of them,” Superintendent Jason Rowland said. “By approving the New Year Bridge Supplement for all employees, they demonstrated their unwavering belief in the people who make our school system exemplary.”
Bossier Parish School Board Finance Chair Eric Newman said the decision was intended to recognize employees throughout the school system.
“We chose a different path, one that recognizes the value of every person who serves our children,” Newman said. “Our board’s decision reflects a deep respect for the educators and staff at Bossier Schools and reinforces that we succeed as a team.”