Board Meeting Comments

Please focus on students. Vote no on wasteful spending. The “deliverables,” here are fluff. Every third person has an LLC and is hungry for a contract, yet we have students in crowded schools that don’t yet have books nor access to curriculum tools a month into the school year? Board members expressed concern about “the culture”, of EBR Schools. This is a chance to say no to business as usual. Vote no on this vague contract that reeks of cronyism. Please find a “special project” person or one of the “directors” already on the payroll to do this work. Let’s finally see a return on all that conference and PD spending. Also, if this is about closing more schools, please find a proven expert in the field of public education. Liking someone is no reason to hand them $200,000 based on a sketchy website, and no proven track record in public education. Get them a coffee, not a contract. fund books, not waste.

I am asking the Board to reconsider the scheduled November 26 distribution date for teacher LDOE stipends. Neighboring parishes such as Lafayette, Ascension, St. Charles, St. John, and St. James are releasing stipends in September or early October, giving their teachers immediate support. If funds are available by September 5, it is difficult to understand why EBR teachers must wait nearly three additional months. Our educators have already managed district realignment, schedule changes, curriculum shifts, and unpaid summer professional development—all while facing rising living costs. Delaying stipends until late November adds unnecessary strain and lowers morale. Please advance the disbursement to September or the earliest October payroll. Doing so would demonstrate meaningful support for teachers and keep EBR competitive with surrounding districts.

Thank you for the decision to provide teachers with a stipend this year. We truly appreciate the gesture. However, it does not seem fair to delay the distribution until December. Teachers across our district have been working tirelessly since the first day of school—planning lessons, supporting students academically and emotionally, and stepping up to meet every challenge. Meanwhile, many other districts in Louisiana have already scheduled their stipend payments for September or October, ensuring their staff receives timely support. Our teachers should not have to wait until Christmas to receive this relief after all the dedication and effort they have already. Please disburse stipends sooner.