St. James Parish School Board approves service contracts, payments and staff updates; holds FY2025 budget hearing

The St. James Parish School Board on July 9 in the School Board Meeting Room approved a package of contracts and payments to support capital work, student services and staffing, held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2025 budgets, and authorized legal counsel to accept mediation results in two pending lawsuits.

Ashley Munz, who presented finance items to the board, described two certificates of payment tied to Cypress Grove projects: "$246,126" for payout No. 4 to J JW Grama for the Cypress Grove Montessori Academy additions and renovations, and "$21,415" as the final payment to Geosurfaces for the campus track, including retainage and punch-list items, and asked the board to approve both. The board voted to carry the motions unanimously.

Seneca Boudreaux told the board she was asking for renewal of the XP (XB) Synergy contract to continue student engagement and mentoring services, saying the district would "voluntarily" set aside funds to maintain the partnership: "we were not required for this upcoming school year to set aside 15% of our IDEA budget. Well, we are voluntarily setting aside that money to continue that partnership with XB Synergy and Opportunity." The renewal passed on an aye vote.

Kelly Cook presented three personnel- and services-related items: a contract for an LPN to provide full-time medical care for a special-needs student at Fort Howard School, a contract with ProCare Therapy to provide speech-language pathologist coverage after a retirement, and updated job descriptions for payroll supervisor, payroll coordinator, teacher, assistant principal and principal. Each item was moved, seconded and approved.

Cook also outlined amendments to the 2024–25 salary schedule, noting the board set an extra-duty hourly rate so teachers would net the required $30/hour: "the per hour rate for teachers will now be increased $35 an hour ... so they are able to net the $30," she said. The board approved the salary schedule amendments and the recruitment/retention stipend language.

The board held a public hearing on the proposed FY2025 budgets for general funds, special revenues and capital projects; Ashley Munz presented the materials and the hearing was informational to allow public comment. No committee recommendations resulted from the public hearing.

In executive session the board discussed two pending suits; after returning to open session the board voted to authorize legal counsel to accept the results of mediation in both matters. The board recorded condolence notices and adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Certificates of payment: J JW Grama, $246,126 (payout #4) — motion carried unanimously. - Certificate of payment: Geosurfaces, $21,415 (final) — motion carried unanimously. - XP (XB) Synergy contract renewal (student engagement/mentoring) — motion carried unanimously. - LPN staffing contract (Fort Howard School) — motion carried unanimously. - ProCare Therapy (SLP services) — motion carried unanimously. - XP Synergy JAG staffing and instructional support — motion carried unanimously. - Job description updates (payroll, supervisors, school leadership) — motion carried unanimously. - Amended 2024–25 salary schedule (including extra-duty pay adjustment) — motion carried unanimously. - Authorization for counsel to accept mediation results for two suits — motion carried unanimously.

Next steps and context: The FY2025 budgets presented at the public hearing will move forward through the board's formal budget adoption process; the contracts and staffing approvals allow the district to continue services and projects into the coming school year.