In an extraordinary commitment to public education and show of support for its teachers and employees, the Bossier Parish School Board voted at its April 17, 2025 meeting to approve the largest permanent pay raise in its history without passage of a bond, making Bossier Schools one of the most highly paid systems among its neighboring districts and in the state.
When the 2025-26 school year begins, a $2,500 pay increase will bring starting teacher pay to $52,634 in Bossier Parish, setting the existing multipliers and factors into motion when calculating the salary scale for all educators and certified personnel. Furthermore, the board-driven raise calls for all support personnel pay scales to receive a 4.75% increase.
At an estimated expense of $10.6 million annually, a cost that is reflective of retirement costs and step increases, the money will come from restructuring property millages in the prior year, increases in sales tax revenue and slight reductions in the retirement rate for both the Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System (LSERS) and Teacher’s Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL).
“This is a monumental milestone that demonstrates the importance our board places on those teaching and positioning our children for success,” said BPSB President Craton Cochran. “By passing a permanent pay raise that employees can factor into their monthly budget and count on during retirement, it is our hope to not only have a positive impact on their financial future, but also attract the best that want to work in Bossier Parish.”
“We cannot express our gratitude enough to the board for validating the teaching profession and elevating our educators to a place few could have imagined, especially given the recent outcome of the statewide election and legislative process,” said Bossier Schools Superintendent Jason Rowland. “But what could have been perceived as a negative was turned into a positive by the Bossier Parish School Board. Leadership sometimes means stepping up, not stepping aside, and that is exactly what our board did. It is exciting that Bossier Schools can do right by our employees by hitting this solo homerun to ‘Win the Day.’”