Jeff Davis Parish school employees could soon see two separate stipends.

The School Board on Thursday began discussions on how to spend federal and state funds to help provide stipends to all employees by the end of the year.

“We have traditionally been a district that gives stipends almost every year, this will allow us to give two stipends to our employees and it’s much needed in order for us to compete with other districts,” Superintendent John Hall said.

The board is considering giving $1,500 to certified employees and $1,000 to non-certified employees from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds  (ESSER), which is federal money awarded to help schools with challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic. Hall said the School Board is aiming to distribute the first stipend by September.

Distribution of an additional $2,000 stipend for certified employees and $1,000 for non-certified employees is pending directions from the state on how to handle the funds, Hall said.

The money was approved by state legislators this summer, but school boards have not received guidance from the state on how or when districts will receive the money, he said.

“As soon as we get that guidance from the state, then that will allow the board to make a decision on how we disperse it and when,” he said.

Officials would like to see the second stipend given out in November.

In other matters, the board thanked State Sen. Mark Abraham and State Rep. Troy Romero for their work and support for awarding money from the state’s general fund for projects at Lacassine High School and Elton High School.

Through their efforts under House Bill 560, Lacassine High School was awarded $300,000 to help build softball and baseball fields in Lacassine.

The school currently does not have its own fields to practice or play games, Hall said. Plans are to build the fields on school owned property located off campus, he said.

Elton High School was also awarded $100,000 to replace aging bleachers in the school’s gym.