Notice

Publication Date

2026-02-19

Subcategory

Miscellaneous Notices

Keywords:

FEBRUARY 10, 2026

DATE, TIME, PLACE

OF MEETING

The Calcasieu Parish School Board meeting was held at 3310 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Aaron Natali, President. The prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were Dr. Washington.

ROLL CALL

The roll was called by Superintendent VanMetre and the following members were present: Aaron Natali, Karen Hardy-McReynolds, Glenda Gay, Patrick Pichon, Mary Fontenot, Dean Roberts, Dr. Betty Washington, Eric Tarver, Damon Hardesty, Tony OBanion, Phyllis Ayo, Russell Castille, Billy Breaux, Rev. Desmond Wallace, Shawn Baumgarten.

Rev. Wallace offered a motion, with a second by Dr. Washington, to amend the agenda and add the Executive Session item and the Take Appropriate Action on Executive Session item as items 7.F and 7.G., with the discussion to the extent provided by law.

Mr. Tarver asked on a Point of Order would the Board have to vote unanimously or by majority vote, with Attorney Belfour replying it would be majority vote. After brief discussion, Rev. Wallace and Dr. Washington withdrew the motion to amend the agenda.

APPROVAL OF

MINUTES

On a motion to approve by Mr. Breaux and a second by Mr. Tarver, the Minutes of January 13, 2026 were approved on a unanimous vote.

PRESENTATIONS

A. SHHS Student Council/Destination Zero Deaths/High School Distracted Driving Video/Second Place Award/Brandi White, Principal and Amber Ashworth/Destination Zero Deaths SW Region

SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT

Dr. VanMetre gave the following report:

1. Program Governance

No Policy Council meeting was held in January 2026. Our next meeting will be held on February 9, 2026.

Fathers & Children activity: making melting snowmen!

Students were fully engaged in the hands-on STEM project, sharing predictions about why the snowmen mixture felt firm in their hands but quickly melted when set down. Parents also learned how something as simple as a good nights sleep can make a big difference in their childs learning and school success.

Celebrated the 100th day of school in styleby dressing up as 100 year old versions of ourselves!

Students had a blast transforming into centenarian characters and acting like their grandparents. The halls were full of canes, gray hair, and lots of laughter.

Our annual Coordinated Enrolment event is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Lake Charles Event Center.

Program Operations

Enrollment 450

2. You have each received the school population report that reflects the ending numbers in December and the ending numbers in January.

3. I would like to report our January 2026 sales tax numbers which show collections at $19,153,306, which is $1,822,397 above budget for the month and $328,235 or 1.7 % above collections for the same month in 2025.

4. The latest hurricane report was in your packet.

5. All board members are required to complete a Tier 2 Financial Report (Leaders PFD efile system) by May 15. This process is now required to be completed online by the state. The disclosure will now no longer be allowed via upload, email, fax, hand delivery or by mail. While we will provide you with instructions on how to complete this report on your own, we will also schedule a time to have the MIS Lab open to provide computers and assist you with this new process. We will follow up with more information later.

6. We held our monthly Literacy Day event at Henning Elementary School this past month. Students at Henning Elementary focused on the importance of reading and District Staff were present to read a book. Thank you to Dr. Anderson and her staff for organizing this event. It was a fantastic event.

7. Our elementary Special Education students participated in BRODEO this past month. This event allows for students with special needs to interact with animals and participate in games and activities centered around the rodeo. Thank you to Mrs. JoAnn Meaux for founding and organizing this event every year.

8. The Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) gave out statewide awards this month and CPSB educators faired very well. Ms. Anna Lou Babin (T.S. Cooley Retired) received the Distinguished Legacy Award. Kari Proksch (SJ Welsh Middle Choir), Eva Lormand (SJ Welsh Middle Band) and Mathew McMillen (Sulphur High Wind Symphony) received the Standard of Excellence Award, Mathew McMillen also received the Outstanding Jazz Educator Award for District V., David Billodeaux (Iowa High Band), and Darren Hooper (Sulphur High Band) received the Outstanding Young Music Educator Award, and Tony McCardle (Admin Director for Visual and Performing Arts) received the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Contributor Award. Congratulations to these educators and thank you for representing CPSB so well.

9. This month CPSB also helped to host the Region V honor band for Middle and High School students. Students from all over the area were able to come together to learn additional music from guest clinicians and participate in a performance at McNeese State University. Congratulations to these students and thank you to the music educators and the Visual and Performing Arts Department for helping to organize this event.

10. CPSB held our Partner in Education Brunch at the Lake Charles Event Center. This is an annual event that allows us to honor the many businesses and individuals that serve as Partners in Education in our schools. Thank you to these entities for helping to make a difference in the lives of the children in Calcasieu Parish. Dr. Anderson and her team did a great job organizing this event.

11. Starks High School held Career Day this past month. Students were able to meet with representatives from various businesses and occupations to explore possible career paths. Thank you to Kolby Gilbert for organizing this event.

12. If you asked to be registered for the LSBA convention in March, your travel folder was placed in your packet.

This concludes the Superintendents Report.

COMMITTEE

REPORTS

A. C&I Committee/January 27, 2026/Phyllis Ayo, Chair

Mrs. Ayo gave the following report:

The Calcasieu Parish School Board Curriculum and Instruction Committee met Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in the Board Room, 3310 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Committee Members Present: Phyllis Ayo; Chair, Mary Fontenot, Damon Hardesty, Karen Hardy-McReynolds, Tony OBanion, Patrick Pichon, Rev. Desmond Wallace, and Dr. Betty Washington; Vice Chair.

Other Board Members Present: Billy Breaux and Russell Castille.

The C & I Committee Meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Phyllis Ayo, Chair. The roll was called and there was a quorum. The prayer and pledge were led by Dr. Betty Washington.

Mr. Ronnie Harvey, Jr., Chief Academic Officer, presented the Board with the recommendation of the calendar committee for school year 2027-2028.

On a motion by Dr. Betty Washington and seconded by Billy Breaux, it was recommended to approve the calendar for school year 2027-2028 as presented; the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

On behalf of the committee, Mrs. Ayo offered a motion to approve the calendar for 2027-2028; a second was not needed. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Next, Mr. Harvey and various C & I team members presented the CPSB School Performance Scores.

Owen Clanton - Administrative Director Middle Schools

Tony McCardle -Administrative Director Career & Tech

Willona Jackson - Administrative Director Elementary Schools

Kristi Russell - Director of Elementary Curriculum

Mikie Ferguson - Principal Henry Heights Elementary School

Robert Pete -Administrative Director High Schools

Wendy Hill -Administrative Director Special Services Dept and Alternative Programs

Dr. Shonna Anderson - Supervisor Special Projects

Dr. Michelle Joubert - Administrative Director Early Childhood

This was for information only and did not require a vote.

There being no further business to discuss, Phyllis Ayo requested a motion to adjourn at 6:13 p.m. which was made by Dr. Betty Washington and seconded by Russell Castille; the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

B. Budget Committee/January 27, 2026/Tony OBanion, Chair

Mr. OBanion gave the following report:

The Calcasieu Parish School Board Budget/Fiscal Management Committee met at 6:24 p.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in the Board Room, 3310 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana. A quorum was present.

Present: Tony OBanion - Chair, committee members Russell Castille,

Betty Washington, Mary Fontenot, Phyllis Ayo, Desmond Wallace, and Dennis Bent Secretary. Other Board Members present were Damon Hardesty, and Karen Hardy-McReynolds.

Absent: Patrick Pichon, Shawn Baumgarten, Aaron Natali, Billy Breaux, Glenda Gay, Eric Tarver, and Dean Roberts

Mr. O Banion called the meeting to order.

Mr. Bent presented information about the proposed structure of the 2026-2027 Salary Schedules. Key updates include reducing the number of steps for 182-day teachers to forty-seven. He also discussed increasing the number of steps for support staff to thirty. Terri Johnson, representing SWLA federation of Teachers, submitted a blue card to address the board.

On a motion by Dr. Washington and seconded by Mrs. Hardy-McReynolds, it was recommended that the proposed structure of the 2026-2027 Salary Schedules be approved. The motion passed.

On behalf of the committee, Mr. OBanion offered a motion to approve the recommendation; a second was not needed. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Bent then presented a current update on the status of the fifty million funds. This was presented as information only and did not require any action.

The next item presented was a current update on the status of the Riverboat funds. This was presented as information only and did not require any action.

There being no further business to discuss, on a motion by Dr. Washington, and seconded by Mrs. Hardy-McReynolds, the committee adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m.

TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION

Items A-D are available for viewing at the end of this document and at www.cpsb.org/Minutes

Mr. Natali read the following:

A. Approval of CPSB Head Start Program Federal Grant/$4,818,215.00