Do school districts have the authority to pay non-certified employees?
Answer. Based on the Proclamation of State of Emergency issued by Governor Haley Barbour, the governor has granted the authority to appointing entities to grant administrative leave with pay to state employees affected by Hurricane Katrina. Thus, a local school board may adopt a leave policy to respond to the needs created by this natural disaster that grants administrative leave with pay to non-licensed employees. Superintendents may implement the policy, which will permit non-licensed and hourly paid employees to be placed on administrative leave with pay and will permit school districts to continue corresponding benefits such as insurance. The MDE has established a Hurricane Katrina Disaster Page on the Department’s website which includes a link for Communications to Districts for the MDE to post current information. Go to Communications to Districts and select Letters and Memos for Districts to view the memo dated September 9, 2005, concerning Administrative Leave Information.
