State Sen. Butch Gautreaux, D-Morgan City, summarized numerous education-related bills acted on during the recently completed legislative session.

He said $199 million was provided for base state teacher pay for K-12 funding including teacher pay raises.

Also, about $57,000 in increases was given in pay raises for teachers and certified personnel.

"This allows us to stay at or above the Southern Regional Average, which has been the goal for a long time," he said.

Next year, the increase will total $1,019.

Gautreaux said current average teacher pay statewide is $46,800, up from $13,777 in 1980.

"The most vocal opponents to the (legislative) pay raise were teachers and retired teachers, and one of the most common threads in the emails I received was if we can’t get off the bottom (nationally) in many issues, we (legislators) don’t deserve this pay raise," Gautreaux said.

In all, $3.2 billion was funded for K-12 education. Of that, $90 million in increases was given in basic aid to public schools also was funded. In this funding, $103 more dollars now will be spent per student, increasing the total spending per pupil to $3,850.

Also, a $5 million increase to technical and career education in an effort to educate the workforce for students not going to college was approved.

Dropout prevention legislation also was passed. Before they exit, students have to complete an exit interview where they are informed of the consequences that dropping out will have on their lives.

Also approved was a teacher bill of rights that permits teachers to protect themselves and maintain order in the classroom.

"Under the law at the tax payers expense, legal defense and immunity are provided," Gautreaux said. "Prior to that, teachers were on their own."

Additionally, new teachers are granted the right to have a mentoring teacher in the classroom to help these teachers learn how to control their classrooms.

Another bill requiring educational background checks for those who interact with students also was passed.

Assault and battery against teachers will result in an increased fine from $1,000 to $5,000. Also, the maximum time in jail increased from 30 days to one year. The minimum is still 15 days.

Also, these students must stay in jail for at least 72 hours after their arrest.

"I feel I have represented teachers very well, Gautreaux said this morning. "I have listened to them and responded to their needs. I have advocated for pay raises and laptops in the classrooms. I have advocated for a cost-of-living increase for retirees."

Gautreaux said the issue concerning some teachers not getting as much retirement as others boils down to changes made in the system during the 2002-03 legislative session that went into affect after Jan. 1, 2004.

In the change, the retirement of those entering the system after this date was invested. Because the market has plummeted, these people have lost money. Now educators are realizing these changes, Gautreaux said.

Although Gautreaux said he did not attend the board meeting to directly address the pay raise, he briefly spoke about it.

He said he received lots of negative feed back from many teachers he knew.

Last year during then Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s administration, Gautreaux said support workers were originally supposed to receive a $750 bonus. However, legislator talked with Blanco and the pay raise was increased to $1,000.

Although Gautreaux said the legislators’ base pay ranked 14th in the country, they do not have an expense account.

He said the proposed $37,500 was the recommended compensation level by the Louisiana State Compensation Review Commission.

Gautreaux said the majority of teachers he was hearing from were a small minority.

With all the controversy the proposed pay raise has caused, Gautreaux said he would like to put it to bed.

However, in the next legislative election, Gautreaux said he estimated about 64 seats would have to be filled. He said many legislators have told him they will serve their time and do their best but after their term is over, they will be returning to their businesses.