Following an executive session, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted to overturn the superintendent's recommendation and allow the appealed student to remain enrolled at Woodlawn Middle.
Shenandoah Elementary principal Elizabeth Callaghan told the board the school’s SPS rose to 89.4 (B), with subgroup gains across disability, economically disadvantaged and racial groups; she credited teachers, parent involvement and recent facility improvements.
At a special Jan. 8 meeting, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board selected its leadership for 2026: Mark Beaulieu was elected board president and Cliff Lewis was elected vice president. The board conducted roll-call votes after nominations and brief member remarks.
EisnerAmper reported an unmodified opinion on the district's FY2025 financial statements, noted a GASB 101 measurement that added about $8 million in compensated-absence liability, and identified one compliance finding: a Child Nutrition Program budget overspend that required general-fund coverage but showed no evidence of misspending.
After hearing a detailed presentation and multiple public comments, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted to accept the Harvest Commons charter application. The proposed K–5 farm- and project-based school plans capacity for about 424 students and emphasizes services for students with disabilities and other high-need groups.
The board accepted the charter office and independent reviewer’s recommendation to deny the Community Roots Leadership Academy application; the applicant was not present at the meeting and public commenters urged denial on procedural and fiscal grounds.
The board approved Group 1 projects for the High School Experience Initiative, prioritizing ready-to-go arts and athletic upgrades and authorizing the superintendent to negotiate contracts. Staff described standards, lifecycle-cost analysis and Title IX considerations during the presentation.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board approved a renewal of the general counsel’s employment contract at a Dec. 15 special meeting despite objections about a substantial proposed pay increase and contract errors; the motion passed 5–3 after board discussion and an online public comment.
At its Dec. 4 meeting, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board recognized student winners of a holiday art contest and multiple fall athletics champions, celebrating academic and extracurricular achievements across district and charter schools.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board voted to approve prior meeting minutes, discussed two pending student-expulsion appeals with possible executive sessions under state law, and heard positive remarks from board members on Superintendent Cole’s first-year performance.