St. James Parish School District

The board meeting addressed several key committee reports and financial matters. The policy committee presented revisions to the district policy manual for future adoption. The finance committee reviewed and approved revised fiscal year 2026 budgets for general funds, special revenue funds, and capital project funds, as well as the ratification of various contract agreements. The full board took action on insurance matters, including the boiler and machinery policy renewal, property and flood insurance options for district facilities, and the renewal of an excess workers' compensation policy.

The board discussed and approved several items, including a resolution for the issuance and sale of general obligation school refunding bonds, tentative board meeting dates for 2026-2027, and various certificates of payment for school projects. Additionally, the board recognized a finalist for early childhood teacher of the year, approved an annual rate resolution for services, authorized a partnership agreement with the LSU AgCenter, approved an amendment to the salary schedule to reflect literacy training incentives for pre-kindergarten teachers, and renewed a contract for a school communication platform.

The St. James Parish School Board is committed to fostering optimal student development by ensuring positive, safe, and health-promoting learning environments. This policy outlines goals and procedures for providing students with access to healthy foods, quality nutrition education, and opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day. Key areas include meeting federal and state nutrition standards, encouraging staff wellness, engaging the community in support of healthy habits, and establishing an infrastructure for managing and overseeing the policy. The plan aims to promote lifelong healthy eating and physical activity behaviors, contributing to students' personal, academic, developmental, and social success.

The council meeting agenda includes a review of the special education quarterly newsletter and crisis intervention guidelines regarding seclusion and restraint techniques for students with medical conditions. Additional topics include a district risk assessment presentation, a clinical presentation on mental health services, and a dialogue regarding the impact of emotional and behavioral disorders on education and school safety.

This Local Literacy Plan for St. James Parish Schools is founded on Louisiana's Literacy Pillars, emphasizing equity, to develop responsible, self-motivated, and lifelong learners. The plan commits to providing high-quality, explicit literacy instruction daily, with strategic goals focused on ensuring all students meet reading growth targets by 8th grade, enhancing teacher effectiveness through professional development and curriculum fidelity, and implementing a robust Tier I reading curriculum supported by tiered interventions (MTSS) and data-driven monitoring. It also addresses literacy teams, action plans, professional growth, family engagement, and communication strategies.