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House approves sending constitutional amendment on St. George school system to voters
Summary
The House voted to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot that would allow the newly incorporated City of St. George to form an independent school district; debate centered on funding, which students would attend which schools and whether statutory details should be resolved before a public vote.
The Louisiana House voted to send Senate Bill 25, a joint resolution to amend the state Constitution to allow the City of St. George to create and operate its own independent school district, to the ballot, with the measure passing on final passage by recorded machine vote (70 ayes, 23 nays).
Supporters said the measure is a final step in a long process that began with incorporation of the city and follows companion statutory language passed separately. "What this bill does is it proposes the constitutional amendment that allows the new, incorporated city of Saint George, in East Baton Rouge to create and operate its own independent school district," Representative Davis told members on the floor, saying the change is similar to earlier non‑parish school districts in the state.
The vote lets voters decide whether St. George may form and operate a separate school system; supporters repeatedly described the measure as procedural. "All this is doing is sending this to the voters in April to approve or disapprove a school district," Representative Davis said.
Opponents urged more preparation before asking the public to decide. Representative Jordan said the proposal leaves unresolved questions about who would attend which schools and how the new district would be funded: "There's no legislation that's telling us what these schools are gonna look like, who's gonna do what. So why are we creating something when we don't know what it's gonna look like?" Jordan and other critics pointed to demographic and boundary issues raised in litigation and argued the plan had cut low‑income and minority voters from the city's petitioned boundaries.
Several members questioned fiscal details discussed during floor colloquy. Members noted the companion statutory bill addresses student assignment and operational matters, while this constitutional amendment only places the question on the ballot. Representative Jordan and others asked about the mix of funding, and Representative Jordan noted one point discussed on the floor: "the MFP dollars will follow the children ... the ad valorem tax dollars will not," meaning local property tax revenue implications were still unsettled.
Lawmakers also flagged the practical scope: Representative Davis said there are currently six schools in the St. George area that would be affected. Members repeatedly noted that some details in the statutory companion — including which students may continue attending East Baton Rouge Parish magnet or other schools — were handled in separate legislation and not in the constitutional amendment itself.
After debate and a recorded machine vote, the House approved sending the amendment to the ballot. The constitutional amendment will appear before voters if placed on the ballot by the required process; the transcript on the floor states the question would go to voters in April if companion statutory steps proceed.
The bill was called from the calendar and the floor debate included multiple members asking questions and offering closing remarks before the vote.
Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 25 (joint resolution to amend the Constitution to allow the St. George Community School System to be treated as a parish school system) — Final passage: approved by machine vote, 70 ayes, 23 nays.
