East Baton Rouge Parish schools present proposed 2025–26 budget; board sends proposal to June 12 meeting without recommendation

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System on June 5 presented its proposed fiscal year 2025–26 consolidated budget, outlining revenue sources, expected fund balances and staffing changes and holding the public hearing required by state law.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting, Kelly Lopez, the district’s budget presenter, said the package is posted on the district website and that “the budget of every local government must follow revised statute 30 nine-thirteen oh 7. Notice has been provided to the Advocate. A public hearing is being held tonight in accordance to the statute.” Lopez described projected revenues, enrollment declines and the effect of ESSER funds ending, and said the district anticipates an ending consolidated fund balance of $381,100,000 for the current fiscal year.

The budget presentation said 64% of district revenues come from local sources (property and sales taxes), 25% from state sources such as the Minimum Foundation Program and Louisiana pre-K funds, and 11% from federal sources. Lopez told board members the district has held seven community budget meetings and aligned the proposal with the district strategic plan and the Student First realignment.

During the public hearing, speakers raised concerns about pay for teachers and support staff and about perceived gaps in engagement and school-level staffing projections. Gabriela Johnson told the board she was “disappointing” there was no pay raise for teachers, paras, bus drivers and cafeteria workers and said some school slides looked incorrect and should be updated before approval.

Board member Russ moved to send the proposed budget to the regular June 12 meeting “without recommendation,” citing the need for some board members who could not attend the workshop to review materials; Paula Lewis seconded. The vice president directed the secretary to call the vote; the motion carried. No roll-call breakdown of yes/no votes was recorded in the meeting minutes for this item.

Why it matters: The hearing begins the formal public process required before the board adopts a budget that will determine staffing, school-level allocations and the district’s submission to the Louisiana Department of Education. The board’s decision to forward the proposal without recommendation preserves members’ ability to request further information or amendments at the regular meeting.

The board also discussed related budget items in that meeting, including advertising bids and insurance renewals, but took no final budget adoption action on June 5. The superintendent and budget staff said the full budget and supplemental materials — including an updated organizational chart at the board’s request — will be provided ahead of the June 12 meeting for further review.