The East Baton Rouge (EBR) School Board convened for its regular meeting on September 18, 2025, addressing several key agenda items, including budget revisions and charter school policy updates.

The meeting commenced with no public comments. Board member Mr. Martin introduced a motion to approve district certificates and support staff stipends for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, along with a revision to the Proposition 3 budget to allocate funding for these stipends. The motion received a second from Ms. Paul Luz and was unanimously approved by the board.

Following the consent agenda, the board moved to new business, where Mr. Russ proposed a motion to suspend the rules to consider an update to the charter policy discussed in a previous meeting. This update included significant changes, such as a requirement for transportation to be provided by Type 1 organizations starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Mr. Russ emphasized the urgency of finalizing the policy before the upcoming deadline for new charter school applications on October 20, 2025.

The motion to suspend the rules was met with mixed reactions. Ms. Paul Luz expressed her opposition, citing the board's commitment to thorough discussions in committee meetings and the need for a workshop to vet the details of the charter policy. Other board members, including Mr. Beaulieu and Ms. Soule, supported the motion, arguing that sufficient opportunities for discussion had already occurred.

Despite the support, the motion to suspend the rules ultimately failed to achieve unanimous approval, preventing the charter policy update from being discussed further at this meeting.

The board then transitioned to the next item on the agenda, which involved an application from International Mezzo Technologies Incorporated for an industrial tax exemption. Public comments were invited, with Jason Newell from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber expressing gratitude for the board's efforts in public education.

The meeting concluded with a focus on the importance of public discussion and transparency in the board's decision-making processes, highlighting the ongoing challenges in balancing timely policy updates with thorough deliberation.