The Calcasieu Parish School Board will be investing just over $38,000 into a third-party evaluation that will examine the district’s salary, compensation and supplement schedules.

Superintendent Shannon LaFargue said the study — to be completed by LEAN Frog Consulting Services — will give the district a better overview of CPSB’s salary schedule and how it has historically evolved.

“It was initiated because we wanted to become leaner and meaner,” he said. “It gives us the data we need to make informed evaluations moving forward regarding our salary schedules and the many questions that we get about supplements, about salaries.”

It would not be feasible for CPSB staff to complete an in-depth study like the one LEAN Frog will provide. “As we start to dive deep into all of that — currently for our staff to be able to do that, we would have to push the stop button, and we just don’t have the time.”

He said the internal review will not only provide the district with information, but teachers and staff who often have questions about positions and supplement amounts as well.

LEAN Frog is a consulting service that provides detailed efficiency reviews, organizational reviews and strategic planning to schools districts throughout several southern states.

They will work with CPSB to develop an updated compensation work plan by developing benchmark positions based on internal position equity and a baseline of current market job valuation, meaning studies are conducted both internally and externally, providing qualitative and quanitative analysis of the district’s initiative to revamp their salary schedule and job roles.

According to a LEAN Frog example of scope of work, some analysis steps include: reviewing district data and current compensation program and pay structures, conducting a projected retirement eligibility analysis of current employees, selecting strategic benchmark positions in collaboration with district leadership, analyzing peer comparison data to compare schedules at multiple steps and matching district positions to market descriptions.

The compensation studies will begin in 2 to 4 weeks, following initial down-payment.

The full study would be complete in 6 to 9 months.

At the regular meeting on Tuesday the board approved the study with a vote of 13 to one. Glenda Gay, District 3, voted in opposition to the study. Eric Tarver, Vice-President, District 8, was not present for the meeting.