Source: era-leader.com by Toni Tageant (click here for the full article)
At the August 14, 2025 meeting of the Washington Parish School Board, Superintendent Jennifer Thomas asked that Colleen Bateman, President of the Washington Parish School Bus Drivers Association, be allowed to speak.
Mrs. Bateman stated, "I know that no decision is being made tonight…Just kinda want to be on the board's mind and heart about Support Personnel being equal when it comes to this stipend/pay raise. I feel we get discriminated against when it comes to these things! We need that extra money as much as anyone else! We all pay taxes in Washington Parish. They say that a teacher is certified, and it cost them money for their degree…so, giving them double what they give us in a stipend is saying that you're helping pay them back for their degree. If that's the case, they need to pay bus operators back for our certification and the two school buses I've paid for while making "peanuts", but I'm not greedy. I feel all of us are equal in the job that we do therefore should be treated as such! “
She added, “Think of teachers as being the wheels and support personnel being the grease that makes the wheels turn! We are a team! Without every one of us this would not work for the students of Washington Parish or any other parish! Thank you for your time and consideration."
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