[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6119758,"mediaKeyId","2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205","parentId",2711000,"title","McKinley Senior Magnet principal reports rising outcomes, dropout work and expanded career programs","audioSeconds",578,"startMs",3839000,"endMs",4417000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205&start=3839&end=4417","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205/thumbnail_3839000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6119758/Louisiana/McKinley-Senior-Magnet-principal-reports-rising-outcomes-dropout-work-and-expanded-career-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119758-eadabf4f2202f5e2a2b05904d373f1f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137877&Signature=ljENetCtKFXexZXtdcIJJLkk5aUMzbT5aMsyFmGpeFCAUuGzxUhgfbtxpkQkrYLUTRtitlQ30kVaKG5n-cP-Zy6WCShcqPHhtpvfWDOGrANFyahPjiNjLV3sWO-IZC4nxdbkqaGe3dpQxGpH0dgI5jBjNTe3b0IIn7I~Z6bQskiXPFKyMy1jraGVPyMxvKFVNnxOT7BokbSQV3W3r3jKY80g8~Fbmdwpd~M7k8N2WUOqr~i45ql64DZIDSgfUm6smpAkL2RH3CiktROK~3r87A8zYY~CBHwvLD-1aTvGiGbLTZjJvcas9azBD2GLaDCOPxU4FiDxB8tRM68dACoCVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","EBR School Board","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","Principal Michael (Dr.) Webb presented McKinley Senior Magnet High School’s academic and program updates to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, describing gains in several measures and outlining work to address dropout and college‑and‑career transitions.

Webb opened by describing school culture with the line used by staff and students: “we expect greatness at 212 degrees,” an image the principal used to describe the school’s push for stronger results. Webb said McKinley — established in 1907 and described by the principal as a generational institution in Baton Rouge — added magnet status and that ninth‑grade enrollment grew as magnet students chose McKinley for arts, gifted and talented programs.

Key statistics Webb reported included changes in the district accountability (SPS) index and other indicators: the transcript shows SPS increasing from 26.7 to 29.6 year‑to‑year with mixed changes in progress and diploma strength; Webb also highlighted growth in WorkKeys results, noting silver or better rose from about 28% last year to over 40% currently. Webb said the school had tracked delinquent dropout leads: when he arrived the school was looking for 132 missing students; the number was reduced to 70 and staff now know where those students are and can provide targeted outreach.

Program highlights: McKinley offers arts pathways (dance, theater, music, visual art), automotive internships, a LA Pre‑Educator pathway enabling students to earn postsecondary credit and partnerships tied to dual enrollment and workforce opportunities. Webb said students have internship offers (for example in New Orleans) and that the school added a GED program on campus to support older students.

Board discussion included questions about dropout‑reduction methods — Webb described outreach that included social‑media searches, family and community contacts and house visits — and about the school’s move to a temporary site at Kenilworth while the McKinley campus is renovated. Board members praised McKinley’s culture shift and instructional focus; several noted they have visited the school and commended Webb’s team.

Webb invited board members and the public to visit McKinley and distributed McKinley shirts to the board at the end of the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 13 2025, EBR School Board Committee of the Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Principal Webb told the board McKinley Senior Magnet High School has improved several academic indicators, expanded career and magnet programs, and reduced the number of students the school could not locate; he outlined dropout‑reduction and dual‑enrollment efforts and invited board members to visit.","taxTitle","East Baton Rouge Parish, School Boards, Louisiana","taxId",14463,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6119763,"Board approves Broadmoor Middle redevelopment for eSports arena, gym and track; project tied to 2018 tax plan funding",498,737000,1235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205&start=737&end=1235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205/thumbnail_737000.jpg","/articles/6119763/Louisiana/Board-approves-Broadmoor-Middle-redevelopment-for-eSports-arena-gym-and-track-project-tied-to-2018-tax-plan-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119763-a52a0056908dbfc4e36a2f76cb1c98d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137877&Signature=oy~snTqi1Ba1~P36lM3Xr56~XaR9XWFhIAdFnl4dZaSVaTdnQf4VRb3GeIQ7jhVx4Ou8GGfa5aOMy9HlI2c87NWKnZiRCeU3LGWBQKrsKryx2vGSGlUsjkQhdZ2t3FbygES~Y-~oUHVq1a2S8x0Uoy7CoFCGEEbCGPPeAHT8DlUoEXCv2jlwCfIBow~0kxc4xv1lU2NdbjqbzrQEum6OVPlnZizhckdGmZ3uuA~QcJwQLZulyMdO3zeEd3TxgSA32lvbKYrT6SruHHgOc7Epy3OaY0nVlmNfs0S8FrJgqSk84uclBJ3pvLhrLFjoeFcA9868ij-Fupq6PQFB~OVwjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board approved a proposal to redevelop the Broadmoor Middle School site into a multipurpose facility combining scholastic eSports space with athletics facilities including a gymnasium and track.

Amy Jones of district staff presented the proposal, noting Broadmoor Middle was built in 1964 and has been closed to students since 2019. Jones said the “proposal is to transform that site into a versatile multipurpose venue designed to meet the needs of the district schools as well as the broader community.” The presentation said the 2018 tax plan allocates $15,000,000 for the Broadmoor site and staff estimated an approximate construction budget of $11,000,000 for the core building work; the remainder would cover designer fees, abatement and other soft costs.

Staff described the eSports program the district has been building: more than 50 schools now have labs, students run a student ambassador program and some competitors have received college scholarships tied to eSports. Amy Jones and athletics staff said a combined venue could host elementary athletics, middle school championships and regional meets, while offering community access for weekend and evening programming.

Public comment: A neighborhood resident who lives in Broadmoor supported the plan and called eSports “a great opportunity” for students to gain teamwork and workforce skills. Board members discussed community meetings held the previous Monday and emphasized using the site as both an athletic and community asset.

Board action: Board member Lanus moved to approve the plan; President Stewart seconded. The motion carried after a board vote. The board did not provide a detailed tally on the record. District staff said the tax‑plan language earmarks the funding for the Broadmoor site; if construction is completed and savings remain, the board must seek oversight‑committee approval to reallocate any excess to other projects.

What’s next: Staff will proceed to the design and engineering phases and refine cost estimates and bids. The scaled redevelopment plan includes an eSports arena, an indoor gym and outdoor track, and staff said community programming and partnerships (including sponsorships) would help offset equipment costs for eSports labs.","The board approved using the Broadmoor Middle site for a combined eSports arena and athletic facility. The 2018 tax plan earmarks $15 million for the site; staff estimated construction costs at about $11 million and said the full $15 million covers design, abatement and soft costs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6119768,"Independent review finds East Baton Rouge teacher pay ranges compressed; recommends overhaul and percentage‑based steps",411,3419000,3830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205&start=3419&end=3830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205/thumbnail_3419000.jpg","/articles/6119768/Louisiana/Independent-review-finds-East-Baton-Rouge-teacher-pay-ranges-compressed-recommends-overhaul-and-percentagebased-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119768-22cea06635e087857a64776ff75348eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137877&Signature=B1GfcmGFlyfbfA11JLIgMywj7shDjlfwt4tSC~VWeF0c3pCn0tZj9iZkFyLiXN~xDO00P~zu46iVwUQZukwgQirx7fHEyY3t-MvDTa2vDFQU2QOb2c5mfikayDg1FCvh7MsI9Ww~PcqlFJCFRLpveca~uewQZCWMDnysYuj51uNv3oSy1G969kXiM~SKZodn52Nqnd05BXrC-nW0BJj~SHdOzF34ABx6hYzwo-5t3LsxS~OHnyCapZV5CvOlezV0Tk1kyH0zToWISAQ8fVnNV0tM56IhqqF8wfV8DSVAmu20telfeu19Tw3pnVY4uCtFTUZ9V92PeJ8ggDJfy8Of5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SSA Consulting presented an analysis of East Baton Rouge Parish teacher compensation that found severe pay compression, low long‑term wage growth and attrition rates above national benchmarks.

The SSA presenter (identified in materials as SSA Consulting) told the board the district’s average attrition for employees on the TE/TI pay scales is “nearly 23 percent” annually and that newly hired employees show nearly 68 percent attrition within five years. SSA reported the district’s current step structure increases a 9‑month teacher’s pay by $225 per step; that amount represents roughly a 0.5% increase at the start of the scale and shrinks as a percentage further along the scale.

The presenter said the net effect is pay growth of about 9% across the scale for teachers with a bachelor’s credential over the full range, far below statewide and regional norms. SSA recommended: redesigning pay ranges to provide meaningful compensation growth; shifting step increases from fixed dollar amounts to percentage increases so raises compound; reducing the total number of distinct pay scales; adding targeted incentives for educational attainment; and instituting an annual, formal wage review tied to cost‑of‑living or standardized indexes.

Board reaction and next steps: Board members described the findings as stark and urged action. Board member Russ said inflation has eroded the value of the $225 step and said the district must “get aggressive” about retention. Vice President Godet and other board members said a larger, district‑wide study should follow; one board member said an RFP for a full salary review was planned.

No formal vote was taken on the SSA analysis at the meeting. Staff and board leaders said they will pursue a broader compensation review and policy work to align salary schedules with competitive markets.","A consultant team reported the district’s teacher pay scale is highly compressed, contributing to near‑23% annual attrition. The report recommended redesigning pay ranges, using percentage‑based steps and installing incentives to retain experienced teachers; board members backed a broader salary study.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6119773,"Consultants tell school board to start budget process earlier, simplify materials and require ongoing reporting",2261,189000,2450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205&start=189&end=2450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2711000-20f061a200f4dc48ce62d02140928205/thumbnail_189000.jpg","/articles/6119773/Louisiana/Consultants-tell-school-board-to-start-budget-process-earlier-simplify-materials-and-require-ongoing-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119773-9b42766de944e05a7501f5a5c4e3abf6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137877&Signature=imSNsaHyX7zOKGtAAs83XR~xPq0pPckRlVFIp5CQ8-5zsCav2C1Oi7JRDabz77TYdBzXq444u4UNcsXVlVnl9qmYWlH8OBie7wPCajwcsm39vNDshyGPTlc9QuzCAp~AvFEP9MSoMt3Ikg-JgwBlMfXUYvwG5iv4oguISXUIgWfTAPwtFFlkeIpbxo1CytJvEUx1FhE3A1Mnq8QDfWApMK1f64l2RDkQWxCpGSnw9pUVHUZJdFHWfs~u78iDnQZDOJEtbeVZvRrm2eM4xGRuTdI0FD5J23soCXoSEH2RXeUam3Kol6RVerADmJhpwB1ReJ7JplSu~LRQJTgr1sClWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultants working with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board presented findings and recommendations aimed at making the district’s budget process more accessible and more aligned with board priorities.

Jessica Swanson, a consultant leading the review, told the board the work aimed to “help you see that in the budget” how money reflects priorities. Natalie Treadgold, who led the community engagement work, said the review drew on document reviews, interviews with all board members, 10 senior staff interviews and community input from 36 schools and about 200 survey respondents.

The consultants’ three headline findings were: limited opportunities for meaningful input on the budget timeline; highly detailed budget documents that are not accessible to all audiences; and the lack of an explicit policy on ongoing financial reporting. Swanson said the district has “a lot of data” but recommended simplifying presentations so “lots of different audiences” can understand how resources connect to priorities.

Why it matters: Board members said clearer, earlier budget information could let the public and the board influence decisions before budgets are finalized. Vice President Godet summarized the issue: “Data and information are not the same thing,” and urged shifting emphasis from purely meeting statutory and audit requirements toward budgeting that highlights strategic priorities.

Recommendations presented included starting the public process earlier, adding structured engagement opportunities (including asynchronous online options and text polling), showing multi‑year budget views and a clear line between strategic‑plan goals and spending, and establishing a predictable monthly or quarterly financial report comparing year‑to‑date spending to prior years.

Board discussion focused on practical changes. A board member suggested publishing a midyear comparison so the board can reallocate funds while there is still time in the fiscal year. Staff said they are already developing an executive summary, a community budget guide (linked by QR code in the presentation) and a one‑page summary to accompany the 2026 budget release.

The consultants also proposed policy edits: incorporate annual review of spending and outcomes into the district’s annual operating budget policy, and adopt a standing financial‑reporting policy so the board and public know what reports to expect and when.

No formal motion or vote was taken on the presentation; staff said consultants will work with district finance and engagement teams on an action plan for 2026 and 2027 and will return to the board with written updates and materials.","Consultants who reviewed East Baton Rouge Parish’s budget process recommended earlier public engagement, simpler communications linking spending to board priorities and a new ongoing financial reporting policy. The board discussed midyear reviews and multi‑year planning but took no formal action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

McKinley Senior Magnet principal reports rising outcomes, dropout work and expanded career programs

Board approves Broadmoor Middle redevelopment for eSports arena, gym and track; project tied to 2018 tax plan funding

Independent review finds East Baton Rouge teacher pay ranges compressed; recommends overhaul and percentage‑based steps

Consultants tell school board to start budget process earlier, simplify materials and require ongoing reporting