BENTON, La. — The Bossier Parish School Board has approved a districtwide pay raise for all employees, marking the second compensation increase in just over a year as officials continue efforts to enhance recruitment and retention.
The pay adjustments will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 school year and are separate from any pending state legislation on educator salaries. The changes will raise starting teacher pay in the district to $53,509.
The board approved increases to two permanent supplemental payments, both of which will now be incorporated into the salary schedule and retirement calculations for full-time employees.
Under the plan, a “Back to School” stipend will increase from $725 to $1,000 and will be distributed via direct deposit on Aug. 25. Additionally, the district’s “13th check,” issued before Thanksgiving, will double for all employee groups. Educators and certificated staff will receive $1,200, up from $600, while support personnel will receive $700, up from $350.
District officials said the raises are being funded through savings generated by a reduction in the state retirement system rate, with those funds redirected to employee compensation.
The move follows a prior pay increase approved in April 2025, which raised teacher salaries by $2,500 and increased support staff pay scales by 4.75%. The latest adjustment adds another $875 to starting teacher pay for the upcoming school year.
“The board’s commitment to our Bossier Parish school community to reimagine teaching and learning has never been more evident than tonight,” Superintendent Jason Rowland said.
School officials said the compensation strategy is part of broader efforts to strengthen the district’s workforce and maintain competitiveness in the regional education labor market.