Mara Girona-Dodd

The committee meeting addressed several operational and financial agenda items. Key discussions included the approval of the Louisiana compliance questionnaire for the 2526 financial audit, the permanent relocation of Northdale Academy to the former Belfare School site, and various professional service contracts for student support, nursing services, transportation routing software, and student interventions through programs like City Year and the Center for High School Success. The meeting also included reports on student academic growth and the approval of contracts for arts-based educational programs.

The board held a public hearing regarding the budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The discussion covered key budgetary topics, including the student-first budget model, salary increases for staff, and enrollment trends which include a decline in students. Operational initiatives were presented, such as facility realignments and the adjustment of school start times. Additionally, the board addressed concerns from bus operators regarding their schedules, the number of work hours, and the support provided for bus aides, confirming that insurance benefits and sick leave remain unaffected by the proposed changes.

The board discussed a proposal to implement a new, simplified salary schedule for district employees to better support recruitment and retention efforts. The presentation included a comprehensive compensation study, benchmarking against peer districts, and an analysis of structural inconsistencies in existing salary schedules. Key highlights included the proposal for a new salary structure, a 26-27 budget presentation, the transition to percentage-based step increases to ensure equity, and plans for salary adjustments for teachers, school leadership, and support staff.

The workshop featured a presentation on school board finance, with a focus on budget processes, structures, and the impact of the end of federal Esser funds. Key topics included academic acceleration needs post-pandemic, trends in enrollment and staffing levels, managing inflationary salary increases, and policies regarding fund balance management.

The meeting included recognitions for various elementary and middle school sports champions and the announcement of the 2026 Volunteers in Public Schools Apple Award winners. The board held an invocation and pledge of allegiance before proceeding with a roll call to establish a quorum. The monthly financial report and personnel matters were noted as information items.