The Lafayette Parish School Board passed a COVID-19-related stipend last night that makes school system employees eligible for a bonus of up to $2,000.

The stipend is being given to employees for the extra duties that they were taxed upon them during the pandemic. Eligible employees will be paid via a separate direct deposit payment in June or July.

The payment was approved at Wednesday's regular school board meeting.

Superintendent Irma Trosclair had the following to say about the stipend in a prepared statement:

No doubt this past year has been one filled with challenges for - not some - but all of our employees. Every one of our employees assumed new responsibilities due to COVID-19 in order to maintain a safe learning environment for our students. Our staff members did what was necessary whether that was changing instruction delivery to virtual platforms, taking temperatures, sanitizing desks & facilities, providing drive-through meals, running additional bus routes, or developing new processes. This work will not end when schools close in May, but will continue as LPSS employees work to prepare for safe learning in the upcoming school year. I am grateful that our board members recognize these efforts and supported our proposal to allocate funding for this allowable expense.

The funds for the stipend are coming from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, which was part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act that was passed by Congress back in December.

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