Zachary school board considers raise for themselves, approves $700,000 to replace stadium turf

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Since the Zachary school district was formed in 2003, the compensation for School Board members has been the same: $500 a month.

Board members are now considering whether it’s time to give themselves a pay raise.

The issue came up during a work session preceding Tuesday’s board meeting, which also featured an extended discussion about the pros and cons of spending up to $700,000 to replace the turf in the high school stadium.

No action was taken Tuesday on the pay matter. Board members would first need to decide how much of a raise they want and put the issue on the agenda of a future meeting for a vote. The higher pay could take effect as soon as July, the beginning of the next fiscal year.

Although board members have the authority to increase their own compensation, the highest they can go under state law is $800 per month, said Superintendent Scott Devillier.

Only one of the board’s nine members spoke against the idea.

“I’m a ‘no’ vote on it,” District 2 member Ryan Talbot said.

“The City Council, I think they get $1,200 a month,” he added. “They meet twice a month, and they probably get way more calls and emails than we do. … If you contrast the two, we meet once a month.”

“Trust me,” countered board member Marty Hughes, “I get as many calls as my sister does.”

Hughes’ sister, Brandy Westmoreland, is former School Board member who now sits on the council — which just a few weeks ago had a similar discussion about raising members’ salaries and those of the mayor and police chief.

On the turf matter, the School Board agreed to set a budget of $700,000 and seek bids to replace the turf and a shock pad beneath it in Zachary High’s Bronco Stadium. The turf is 8 years old and at the end of its warrantied lifespan, Devillier said.

Although the vote to proceed with the project was unanimous, the topic sparked several minutes of questions about cost and benefits of new turf during the work session.

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About Mary Weyand 15919 Articles
Mary founded Scoop Tour with an aim to bring relevant and unaltered news to the general public with a specific view point for each story catered by the team. She is a proficient journalist who holds a reputable portfolio with proficiency in content analysis and research. With ample knowledge about the Automobile industry, she also contributes her knowledge for the Automobile section of the website.

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