EBR school board VP: No contract negotiation for Narcisse without teacher pay raise

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – The vice president of the East Baton Rouge School Board says the current proposed budget lacks the teacher pay raise that was promised, and she’s not willing to negotiate a new contract with the superintendent early or until those raises are provided to staff.

Carla C. Powell, M. Ed. and vice president of the board, said in a statement on Saturday that budget projections that are usually sent to board members in February weren’t sent until earlier this week. She said she published the statement to provide clarity to the community as the board works on the budget and secures the future of those in the school system.

Powell said school board members and district personnel were promised a 12% pay raise over the next three years but Superintendent Sito Narcisse and his cabinet said there was an operational deficit of $31.8 million dollars with a fund balance of $111 million dollars that needs to be saved for emergencies.

Powell said a new budget was proposed after heated debates. It’s balanced but it still does not have a pay raise for teachers and staff.

On Friday, it was reported that Narcisse had applied for another job in Florida. Powell said it was determined he applied for the job on Saturday, May 13 – just before telling the board about the district budget needs.

Narcisse was hired in January 2021. The contract has a June 30, 2024 end date, and he’s required to give the board a 90-day notice if he plans to quit or have to pay damages in proportion to the number of days affected.

According to his contract, he makes a $225,000 base salary with:

• the potential of a $10,000 bonus if the district meets specific performance goals,
• a $3,000 annual technology stipend for a phone, laptop or other device,
• a $ 833-a-month vehicle stipend (up to $10,000 annually),
• a quarterly tax-sheltered annuity contribution matching 8% of his base salary (starting in July 2021),
• medical, dental and vision benefits.

“I understand that Dr. Narcisse may be seeking other opportunities to better meet the needs of
his family. However, the fact still remains that our students, their families, and the people on the
frontline (teachers and school staff) should be a priority considering that promises have been
made to them,” Powell said.

She said there’s been pressure on the board to renegotiate a new contract with Narcisse early, during budget negotiations, when it would be appropriate to do that about six months before the contract ends.

Powell said some of those pushing for the move “have never been fully employed by the district nor do they have children who attend East Baton Rouge Parish Schools.”

The board vice president said she’s unwilling to negotiate a new contract without raises for district employees.

“I believe that the budget process and sustainable teacher pay raises should be solidified prior to engaging in the superintendent’s contract negotiation,” she said.

BRProud has reached out to the school board for comment and has not yet heard back.

Read Powell’s full statement

Under previous administrations, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board received the
upcoming year’s budget projections as early as February annually, which allows board members
the opportunity to gain insight into the district’s future financial stability. However, after many
informal requests from current board members, a school board budget projection for the
upcoming school year (2023-2024) was not presented until Monday, May 15, 2023. School
board members were verbally promised by Superintendent Sito Narcisse and School Board
Member Mike Gaudet that there would not be a deficit, but that “we are in a good place”
financially; meanwhile, members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s Finance
The department continually and verbally stated concerns regarding the upcoming budget.
Additionally, school board members and district personnel were promised and frequently
reminded that there would be a sustainable pay raise for teachers at a rate of 8% in 2023-24
school year with an additional 2% increase given during the 2024-25 school year, and an
additional 2% increase given during the 2025-26 school year – totaling 12% over a three-year
period.

On Monday, May 15, 2023, Superintendent Narcisse and his cabinet began sharing with the board members that there would be a projected budget deficit of 31.8 million dollars with a fund balance of 111 million dollars; and, that there was a possibility of a one-time stipend for teachers but no funds are available for a sustainable pay raise for teachers. After a few heated and emotional debates between the Superintendent, his cabinet, board leadership, and one other board member Monday, over the unfilled promises to board members and teachers, a newly proposed and completely balanced budget was discussed with board members Wednesday and made available electronically to the public Thursday, May 18, 2023. It is important to note that the new proposed budget still does not present a sustainable pay raise for teachers and District staff.

Communication with the district’s financial team confirmed with board members that emergency
and crisis situations such as the 2016 flood and hurricanes have required the use of up to 90
million dollars to repair school sites and other system buildings. The school system is still
awaiting federal reimbursements; therefore, the fund balance (essentially the school system’s
savings account) of 111 million dollars should be reserved for such emergencies.
As of Thursday morning, May 18, 2023, around 11 a.m., Superintendent Narcisse began sharing
with board members and the public that he has applied for a superintendency position in
Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), Florida. After a level of research, it has been determined
that Superintendent Narcisse completed his application for the noted vacancy Saturday, May 13,
2023, just prior to engaging with the board about the proposed budget deficit.
In conjunction with the Superintendent’s media release, School Board Member Mike Gaudet
and representatives of Stand for Children of Louisiana are attempting to apply to bully and
pressuring tactics onboard leadership and board members to force the presentation of a
superintendent’s contract negotiation prior to the official public hearing and approval of the
proposed 2023-24 school system budget.

As Vice President of the Board, I want to communicate that I do not agree with the messaging
and tactics used in this situation. I have shared with Mr. Gaudet and Dr. Narcisse that if there is
no sustainable teacher pay raise built into the proposed budget for the upcoming school year and beyond, I will not be able to conscientiously consider a contract extension or pay raise for Dr. Narcisse. I believe that it would be ‘a slap in the face’ to our teachers if we offer such an
opportunity to Dr. Narcisse without confirmation of financially sustaining our teachers and the
promises that have been made to them. I understand that Dr. Narcisse may be seeking other opportunities to better meet the needs of his family. However, the fact still remains that our students, their families, and the people on the frontline (teachers and school staff) should be a priority considering that promises have been made to them. I am very concerned that those who are encouraging a rapid contract negotiation of the superintendent, have no vested interest in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, as they have never been fully employed by the district nor do they have children who attend East Baton Rouge Parish Schools.

Further, I believe that the budget process and sustainable teacher pay raises should be
solidified prior to engaging in the superintendent’s contract negotiation. Dr. Narcisse’s contract
does not expire for another year. The Board is not required to start this conversation until six
months prior to the expiration of his current contract – which would take place around November or December. Please know that I am publishing this statement to clarify and provide transparency to the community as we work through the vital budget process and secure the futures of our students, teachers, and families.”

Carla C. Powell, M. Ed and vice president of the East Baton Rouge School Board