Beauregard Parish School Board elects Sandiford president, Green vice president; student rep honored

Scott Sandiford was elected president of the Beauregard Parish School Board for 2026 after a hand-raise vote that produced five votes for Sandiford and four for challenger Nikki Weldon. The board then confirmed Gary Green as vice president following a nomination from the floor.

The board opened its meeting by recognizing outgoing student representative Isabelle Palermo, who delivered her final monthly report highlighting holiday activities, student service projects and ongoing school improvements. Palermo said homecoming festivities, an Angel Tree program that served about 40 students, sensory Santa events and multiple food drives kept campuses active over the winter break.

Palermo also reported construction progress at several campuses, including junior high bathroom renovations and a new parking lot, and described academic support work by reading interventionists forming new RTI groups to address midyear assessment results. She closed by thanking the board and noting that McKinley LaFleur will succeed her as the student representative for 2026.

Superintendent remarks and board discussion framed the personnel and facilities updates as part of broader efforts to support students and retain staff. Outgoing board leaders offered thanks to the district and community for their work over the past year.

The board handled procedural business — including adoption of the meeting agenda and approval of the Dec. 11, 2025 minutes — at the start of the session and adjourned after taking action on policy matters later in the meeting.