The Saint Mary Parish School Board on Dec. 11 approved a slate of policy and handbook revisions meant to implement recent state legislative changes, accepted a long-term lease for district property on Bateman Island and authorized one-time staff stipends.

The board voted unanimously to adopt revisions to the 2025–26 student-parent handbook after the policy committee and the superintendent reviewed changes required by state law. Policy committee chair Mister Mancuso said the committee had worked with attorneys to fold legislative changes into district policy, and noted that “Act 100 of 2025 required this revision” to add military status to the list of prohibited statutory discriminations. The board approved distributing a newsletter after the holiday break with links to the new policies and noted that parent notes will be accepted as legitimate excuses for short-term illness beginning in the spring semester.

Also under the policy package, the board approved multiple special-education-related revisions that the policy committee said were necessitated by Act 479 of 2025. Committee members described a multi-month review process with attorneys and special-education staff to translate statutory changes into district policy language. The board voted to relocate detailed procurement and accounting procedures into a standalone Saint Mary Parish School Board Accounting Procurement Manual and to revise district procurement policy to reference that manual.

In a separate vote the board accepted a staff recommendation to award a lease for Bateman Island to Shane Cook. According to the bid summary presented to the board, two bids were opened Dec. 5: Shane Cook ($2,800) and Mason Carbonneau ($1,200). Staff recommended contracting with Shane Cook under a lease term that would begin Dec. 15, 2025, and run through Aug. 31, 2035; the recommendation noted explicit restrictions that the lease does not permit hunting alligators or harvesting alligator eggs. Mr. Parity moved to accept the Cook bid; Mr. Mancuso seconded and the motion carried.

The board also heard financial updates from staff. A presenter for the group health plan reported claims and premium data through November 2025 and said Blue Cross declined a district request for additional premium relief, “and will hold the renewal adjustment at a 2.5% increase for 2026.” The chief financial officer reported that year-to-date sales tax collections through November were about 8% unfavorable; November collections were reported as $2,053,000, approximately $286,000 under the monthly budget figures included in the packet.

Superintendent Doctor Sanders highlighted district academic gains after the Louisiana Department of Education released 2024–25 school performance scores, saying “Saint Mary parish public schools demonstrated consistent academic growth last year, reflecting significant academic progress across the parish.” Sanders also announced that certified personnel would receive a $2,000 stipend and support staff a $1,000 stipend, each to be paid Dec. 12 and supported from the district general fund.

The board voted to enter an executive session to discuss pending litigation under La. R.S. 42:17.8.2 concerning litigation captioned Boudreaux et al. v. School Board of Saint Mary Parish, civil action number 665-11351, on the docket of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Mister Mancuso moved to enter executive session; Mister Parady seconded and the motion carried.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (special meeting 11/10/2025 and regular meeting 11/13/2025): motion carried (mover: Miss Griffin; second: Miss LaSalle).
- Consent agenda (auction of technology surplus; advertise for bids for a tilt skillet braising pan): motion carried (mover: Miss Antler; second: Miss Brent).
- Bateman Island lease award (recommended to Shane Cook; bid amounts presented): motion carried (mover: Mr. Parity; second: Mr. Mancuso).
- Adoption of 2025–26 student-parent handbook revisions and related policy changes (including Act 100 and Act 479 related updates): motion carried (mover: Miss Ainsler; second: Miss LaSalle).
- Move into executive session on pending litigation (Boudreaux et al. v. School Board of Saint Mary Parish): motion carried (mover: Mr. Mancuso; second: Mr. Parady).

What happens next
The district will publish the updated handbook and policy links after the holiday break and begin accepting parent notes as described. The lease award for Bateman Island will be executed according to the dates presented. The board met in executive session immediately following the public meeting to discuss litigation strategy; no action from that session was reported in public minutes at the meeting’s close.