Regular Board Meeting - September 3, 2026

The St. Mary Parish School Board held its regular meeting on September 3, 2026, where several procurement and budget-related matters were discussed and approved. Key procurement actions included approval of updated job descriptions for existing positions, emphasizing accurate role representation without creating new positions. The board also approved employee stipends beyond those mandated by the governor's executive order, allocating an additional $460,000 to cover all employees. Health insurance renewals were reviewed, with a detailed presentation on the 2027 Medicare Advantage Plan renewal options, including a recommendation to defer final decisions until the October meeting to consider commercial plan renewals. The board approved casualty insurance renewal with a recommendation to eliminate medical payments coverage to reduce costs, resulting in an overall premium decrease. The fiscal year 2027 operating budget was adopted, including a postponement of certain loan payments. Additionally, meal pricing for employees and visitors was approved, maintaining discounted rates for employees with the general fund absorbing the difference. Several memorandums of understanding with the St. Mary Vermillion CAA Head Start Program were approved, along with the 2026-2027 pupil progression plan. Policy committee updates were provided, with further reviews scheduled. The meeting concluded with expressions of condolences and adjournment.