Board places central-office hiring freeze, adopts capital projects list pending election and reviews consent decree status
July 19, 2026 | St. John the Baptist Parish, School Boards, Louisiana
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The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board voted April 12 to impose a hiring freeze on all central-office positions effective immediately, with the exception of the Staff Accountant position.
The hiring-freeze motion, offered by Schum and seconded by Sanders, was approved by recorded roll call (11 yeas). The motion followed the board's acceptance of a motion to waive policy and add the item to the agenda.
Earlier in the meeting the board adopted a Proposed Capital Projects List pending election results (motion by Mitchell-Williams, second by Triche; 10 yeas, 1 abstention Burl). The West Bank Civic Association requested that the list be distributed to the public.
On the federal consent decree, Dr. Hookfin read an email from Hammonds and Sils stating, "As of now, we do not have any updates to provide to you. Since the last meeting that we attended, we have not heard from the United States Department of Justice or the NAACP Legal Defense Fund about the deseg case in any way. As such, things are status quo at the moment." The board then approved the hiring freeze.
Dr. Hookfin also provided an update on the location options for Emily C. Watkins for the 2022–2023 school year, noting ECW will not be ready to open in fall 2022 and staff and parents will complete surveys to finalize placement by May. Mrs. Debra Schum announced educational scholarship availability (three $10,000 scholarships for East St. John Jr. High and three $10,000 scholarships for West St. John High School), and board members requested monthly reports on buses, scholar conduct, and building rentals. The meeting adjourned at 10:29 p.m.
The hiring-freeze motion, offered by Schum and seconded by Sanders, was approved by recorded roll call (11 yeas). The motion followed the board's acceptance of a motion to waive policy and add the item to the agenda.
Earlier in the meeting the board adopted a Proposed Capital Projects List pending election results (motion by Mitchell-Williams, second by Triche; 10 yeas, 1 abstention Burl). The West Bank Civic Association requested that the list be distributed to the public.
On the federal consent decree, Dr. Hookfin read an email from Hammonds and Sils stating, "As of now, we do not have any updates to provide to you. Since the last meeting that we attended, we have not heard from the United States Department of Justice or the NAACP Legal Defense Fund about the deseg case in any way. As such, things are status quo at the moment." The board then approved the hiring freeze.
Dr. Hookfin also provided an update on the location options for Emily C. Watkins for the 2022–2023 school year, noting ECW will not be ready to open in fall 2022 and staff and parents will complete surveys to finalize placement by May. Mrs. Debra Schum announced educational scholarship availability (three $10,000 scholarships for East St. John Jr. High and three $10,000 scholarships for West St. John High School), and board members requested monthly reports on buses, scholar conduct, and building rentals. The meeting adjourned at 10:29 p.m.
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