The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on July 17 defeated a motion to approve a $445,000 professional services contract with Kids Orchestra to provide an after-school orchestra program for the 2025–26 school year.

The item drew sustained debate after board members removed it from the consent agenda for separate consideration. The superintendent had recommended the contract, which the administration listed with funding from the general fund and Title IV sources.

Board members said they support arts programming but differed sharply on whether the district should repeatedly fund the same outside nonprofit. "We're not your funders," said Coach Cliff Lewis, a board member who argued the contract represents poor stewardship if it becomes an annual reliance. Several members called for a more open request-for-proposals (RFP) process or clearer expectations that nonprofit partners bring matching fundraising. "If we're gonna do this every year inside of our budget, this is gonna present a huge problem for us," said Mr. Landis.

Other members pushed back that delaying or denying the contract at the start of the school year could disrupt services for students. "I don't think now is the time or the place to be able to do this right now," said Vice President Godet, who said pulling the program now would likely prevent it from serving students this year. Mr. Russ and other supporters said the administration recommended the contract after vetting, and that the program serves students in under-resourced neighborhoods.

The board previously had a unanimous Committee of the Whole recommendation to move the contract to the full board for approval. After public debate and board comments, the motion to approve the Kids Orchestra contract failed on a board vote.

Discussion points included whether the district should (1) fund the same nonprofit organizations year after year; (2) require partner organizations to demonstrate additional fundraising or cost-sharing; and (3) use a competitive procurement or grant process to allocate service dollars. Attorney Gwen Shamblin noted a procedural constraint discussed on the record: if the item fails, bringing it back for approval may require a two-thirds board vote and attendant timing considerations.

The superintendent said staff would continue discussions with community partners and that items declined tonight could be revisited at a later meeting if the board so directs.

Board actions and next steps

The motion to approve the Kids Orchestra professional services contract, moved by Mr. Martin, did not pass; the board record shows the motion failed and no formal approval was recorded. The board removed the item from the consent agenda for separate consideration before the vote.

The superintendent and several board members asked for a broader conversation about a fair, transparent process for external partner funding and whether and how to embed programming internally. Some members requested that staff return with alternatives and with a plan for competitive selection in future budget cycles.