St. Martin Parish Schools board to consider moving graduation to Saturday; parents to be notified

Board members of St. Martin Parish Schools discussed moving high school graduation ceremonies to a Saturday for the 2026 school year and voted to add the item to the next meeting agenda so parents and families can be informed and comment.

During the meeting in Stevensville, a board member said, "We always have graduation on a Saturday, like, next year, May the sixteenth 20 26," proposing May 16, 2026 as the target date. Another board member asked that staff notify parents in advance so families who have made reservations or other plans can adjust. The staff member noted concerns that some families arrange post-graduation events on Friday and could be disadvantaged if a date change is announced late.

Discussion included operational issues such as bus schedules, the need for central staff to cover multiple ceremonies, and staggered start times so families could attend more than one graduation. A board member suggested placing the proposal on the next board agenda for a formal vote and giving families advance notice; other members supported that approach. The board did not vote on a final date at this meeting and instead approved adding the proposal to the next month's agenda for formal consideration.

The motion before the board was to add the graduation-date recommendation to the board agenda; members voted in favor to add it for future consideration. No binding schedule change was adopted at this meeting; staff were asked to provide parents of rising seniors with notice that the board is considering a Saturday move for graduation next year.