The possibility of the Calcasieu Parish School Board converting to a bi-monthly employee payment frequency will no longer be considered by the board at this time.

At the monthly regular board meeting Tuesday, the board voted against the action to further consider the feasibility of employee payroll change to twice a month with a vote of 8-6.

CPSB teachers, staff and administration were given a survey asking a simple question: Would they prefer getting paid monthly or twice a month?

Superintendent Shannon LaFargue laid out the results of this survey. There were 949 in favor of the bi-weekly payment schedule, about 55 percent of responses. There were 773 responses, or about 45 percent, to maintain a monthly payment schedule.

There were 62 percent that did not respond, said Russell Castille, president, District 12.

This survey was conducted to determine whether or not CPSB should conduct further research on the costs associated and logistical process of implementing the proposed payment frequency.

For some on the board, the 55 percent of those wanting a bi-monthly schedule is enough to consider exploration into the option.

The Rev. Desmond Wallace is one of these board members. “Any entity we’re in, it’s always the majority that wins … we’re here based upon that.”

Wallace also mentioned that during the first 12 hours the survey was available, the wrong link was sent out, possibly skewing results.

For others, the large portion of staff that did not respond to the survey says all they need to know.

Dean Roberts, District 6, said, “Maybe my thoughts would have been different if it came back as 75, 89 percent, but I don’t see 54 percent being a mandate for this board to continue.”

Castille continued Wallace’s political metaphor. “Many times those that don’t vote don’t care who gets elected, which I think is the same way here,” he said. “I think the overwhelming 62 percent that didn’t answer the survey speaks volumes.”

During the vote, Castille; Shawn Baumgarten, District 15; Mary Fontenot, District 4; Damon Hardesty, District 9; Aaron Natali, District 1; Patrick Pichon, District 5; Dean Robert, District 5; and Eric Tarver, District 8, voted against further consideration of the bi-monthly payment schedule. Billy Breaux, District 14, was not present for the vote. Castille said his absence was due to a business trip.

At the CPSB meeting on Tuesday, July 11, the board will consider moving forward with a salary schedule study conducted by consulting firm Lean Frog. The cost of the study would be $38,000.

This vote was postponed until July to give LaFargue time to determine the additional cost — or lack thereof — of adding an analysis on switching to a twice-a-month salary for CPSB employees. The postponement of the vote on Lean Frog was proposed by Hardesty. The request to look into adding an analysis of the pros, cons and cost of a bi-weekly salary payment was proposed by Wallace.

“We can research this all we want … it’s still the same amount of money,” Hardesty said. “You’re still going to get the same amount of money, so, we’re really not changing anything besides paying them twice a month. The difference between getting paid once a month and twice a month is not going to make a big enough difference to make a change if it is a big amount of money that it is going to cost us.”

Karen McReynolds said a monthly salary might be difficult for new hires to adapt to and could ultimately deter potential employees from committing to a job at CPSB.

“All of us up here, we represent so many different and various demographics, but all don’t represent the same, and our job is to make sure that as a board member, we are doing what is in the best interest of the people, but also thinking about, you know what there are some individuals who may not be from the same demographics or have the same demographics or be in the same situations,” Wallace said.