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St. James Parish School District board meeting, Jul 14, 2026

31 min · 1 public speaker

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 31 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
  5. Marty PochePresident
What happened

What happened at this meeting

St. James Parish School Board approves student accident insurance renewal with $80,495.95 premium 23:33

  • A district staff member said all prospective employees undergo a hiring process that includes required background checks and verification. 17:29
  • The board approved three certificates of payment for construction projects. 22:19
  • The board also approved the 2026⁠-⁠27 student policy manual and the 2026⁠-⁠27 Student Code of Conduct. 29:47
Item by item (10)
  1. Opening and approval of minutes 0:02
    • Angela Washington led a prayer and Raymond Gros led the pledge. 0:19
    • The board took up approval of the minutes of June 9th, 2026. 2:19
    • Marty Poche announced the motion on the minutes carried. 2:43
  2. Committee and public hearing reports 2:43
    • Tim Detillier reported the building committee approved change order number 3 for the Luttrell High School softball complex renovations and additions. 4:05
    • Marty Poche reported a public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 original budgets drew no motions or requests. 5:17
    • Raymond Gros reported the finance committee approved the fiscal year 2027 original budgets and the contracts and agreements. 6:12
    • The board voted to accept each report, and Marty Poche announced each motion carried. 3:55
  3. Discussion of hiring process policies 7:11
    • A speaker at public comment asked whether the board or central office authorized a telemessage to parents and what methods are used for background checks before placing employees in classrooms. 8:27
    • An unidentified speaker said the item was not an action item under Revised Statute 42:15 and that public comment is allowed for action items. 16:39
    • A district staff member said employees are placed on administrative leave during investigations of misconduct allegations and that the district must provide due process before employment decisions. 17:29
  4. External audit engagement 20:00
    • A district staff member said state law requires an external audit each year and asked for approval to engage Kolder, Slavin and Company LLC for the fiscal year 2026 audit. 20:17
    • Marty Poche announced the motion carried. 21:14
  5. Legislative audit compliance questionnaire 21:14
    • A district staff member said the Louisiana Legislative Auditor requires the compliance questionnaire each year as part of the audit. 21:32
    • Marty Poche announced the motion carried. 21:56
  6. Certificates of payment for construction 21:56
    • A district staff member presented a payment of $107,903.29 to Pivotal LLC for the St. James School Board public relations building renovation. 22:19
    • The staff member also presented payments to Guy Hopkins Construction of $68,101.27 for retainage and $108,834.37 for partial punch list items on the Letcher High School softball complex. 22:19
    • Marty Poche announced the motion carried. 23:06
  7. Student accident insurance policy 23:20
    • A presenter said the premium is increasing to a total annual premium of $80,495.95 and that the coverage is secondary to parents' insurance. 24:00
    • A staff member said premiums paid over the last 5 years totaled $276,000 while claims paid totaled $321,000, and that the increase is due to claims. 24:45
    • A staff member asked whether the policy is optional, and another staff member said it is not required. 27:03
    • Marty Poche announced the motion carried. 28:30
  8. Student policy manual 28:30
    • A presenter said the 2026⁠-⁠27 student policy manual was reviewed for alignment with state and federal laws and that any changes required by the 2026 regular session would come back to the board. 28:50
    • Marty Poche announced the motion carried. 29:47
  9. Student Code of Conduct 29:47
    • A presenter said the 2026⁠-⁠27 Student Code of Conduct was reviewed for alignment with state and federal requirements and legal counsel was consulted on new legislation. 30:08
    • Marty Poche announced the motion carried. 30:54
  10. Adjournment 30:54
    • The board took up a motion to adjourn. 31:04
    • Marty Poche announced the motion carried. 31:05

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “SJPS School Board Meeting 7/14/26”