WBR schools employees to get extra check

PORT ALLEN — The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board unanimously approved a request Wednesday from Superintendent David Corona to give the district’s nearly 600 employees a “13th check” in the amount of $800.

The check will be issued to employees in December and funded through the school district’s Education Facilities Improvement District fund.

The supplements will be prorated according to the percentage of the year of employment, School Board President Jason Manola said.

Employees must be employed by the district on Dec. 1 to receive the check, Manola added.

In a prepared statement that will be sent out with the check, the School Board said the money is a display of gratitude to district employees for their efforts in educating the children of the parish.

“We also recognize the difficult summer we have all endured regarding massive changes in pre-kindergarten to 12th (grade) education in Louisiana,” Corona read from the statement during Wednesday night’s meeting.

“We are fortunate to have you working with our children, and because we are in good financial position in this point and time, we want to reward each of you with a 13th check that simply says thank you for the work you do,” the superintendent said.

In other business Wednesday, the board also:

FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS: The board approved one-time allocations in the amount of $75,000 to Brusly and Port Allen high schools for athletic facility improvements.

Principals at each high school have been asked to prioritize project lists which will be given to the superintendent for final approval.

HEAD START: The board approved a proclamation declaring October as National Head Start Awareness Month.

The board also granted Crystal Leon, supervisor of
pre-kindergarten programs, the authority to write and
submit an application for
the Head Start Continuation Grant.