The St. Bernard Parish School Board on July 22 voted to call a special election on Nov. 15, 2025, asking voters to renew an existing 5.5‑mill tax dedicated to school facilities maintenance and repair.

School board legal counsel Grant Schluter of Foley & Udell told the board the measure is “simply calling for the tax renewal election” and that it would not increase the existing rate. The resolution as read into the minutes says the renewal would cover a 10‑year term beginning in 2027 and ending in 2036 and is estimated to generate $2,837,600 annually for the district.

The renewal was framed as a continuation of a maintenance fund the district established after Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Kocher, a board member, outlined that FEMA, insurance and CDBG funds had been used to rebuild and renovate facilities after Katrina and that the original bond proceeds later were converted into a maintenance and operation millage so local funds would be available to keep buildings in service. “That millage is expiring,” she said, describing the board’s request to voters as a renewal “so that we can maintain our facilities without impacting any of the instructional programs.”

Under the resolution, the board authorized the president to make any ministerial changes needed to comply with state or federal requirements, directed publication of notice in the district’s official journal once a week for four consecutive weeks (first publication to be not fewer than 45 days and not more than 90 days before the election), and set the board’s canvass of the returns for the regular meeting on Dec. 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. The resolution requires certified copies be filed with the secretary of state, the parish clerk of court, the parish custodian of voting machines and the registrar of voters, and it makes application to the State Bond Commission for consent and approval if voters carry the proposition.

A motion to adopt the resolution was made and seconded on the floor; after a roll‑call vote the motion passed unanimously. The board recorded the vote as eight in favor, none opposed. The board secretary and counsel will handle statutorily required filings and notifications to election officials and the State Bond Commission.

Next steps specified in the adopted resolution include publication of the notice of election, the board’s canvass on Dec. 9 and filings with the State Bond Commission and local election officials to arrange use of voting machines and other election apparatus.