School Board Meetings Summary, June - July 2026

Zachary Community School Board | District 8

Compiled by Dr. Crystal London, District 8 Board Member

June and July were full months for the Zachary Community School Board, with major work related to employee compensation, discipline and student support, the district budget, strategic planning, employee benefits, administrative leadership, policy review, and district operations.

The two months also included unusual meeting interruptions: the June Committee of the Whole ended early after severe weather caused a power outage and disrupted the required livestream, while the July 7 Committee of the Whole was canceled because a quorum of board members was not present. (June Committee of the Whole; July 7, 2026 Committee of the Whole)

June Committee of the Whole

The June Committee of the Whole began as scheduled, but shortly after the meeting opened and the financial presentation began, severe weather caused the district to lose power. Because the outage interrupted the livestream and state law requires the public meeting to be recorded or livestreamed, the board was unable to continue its business and adjourned.

June Budget Hearing

Before the June 23 Regular Board Meeting, the district held its public hearing on the proposed 2026–2027 budget. No questions were raised by members of the public during the hearing. (June 23, 2026)

Recognitions & Celebrations

In June, the district recognized :

• retirees Karen Knecht and Jacqueline Lauve, while Tracy Achord and Jan Langlois were also recognized for retirement but were unable to attend because of prior obligations,

• girls track and field state champions J’Niyah Alexander in Triple Jump, Serenity Early in the 100 Meter Hurdles, and Kai Richard in Shot Put

• District 8 board interns was postponed because of scheduling conflicts.

  
  

At the July 14 meeting, the board recognized:

• retiree Michele Hebert.

• Phoebe Fannin, Khaliyah Claiborne, and Jimmie McKnight for completing the pilot Zachary Community School Board internship program. Each student received a certificate recognizing their participation and work.

Superintendent Updates

The June superintendent update included end-of-year and summer information, the upcoming vote on the employee-compensation tax initiative, and notice that the Louisiana Department of Education was developing guidance related to artificial intelligence. Because of that statewide work, local AI policy development would pause while the district waited for additional guidance.

The district also discussed the STAR Academy program, supporting the transition of students from seventh through ninth grade. (June 23, 2026)

In July, the superintendent’s update was followed by a more formal review of the district’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and progress across its six strategic pillars. Those pillars include Academic Growth & Achievements, Positive Student Experiences, Safety & Facilities, Stakeholder Engagement & Communications, Workforce Talent, and Fiscal Responsibility & Technology. (July 14, 2026)

Discipline Outcomes, Prevention & Student Support

A major portion of the June 23 meeting focused on discipline outcomes and prevention strategies.

The board first discussed a developing partnership involving DARE, iCare, and grant-supported programming. Officer Higginbotham shared information about DARE and its potential implementation beginning with fifth-grade students. The program would work alongside the district’s School Resource Officer structure and address topics including vaping, decision-making, bullying, cyberbullying, and opioid education.

The board also discussed how the curriculum is updated over time to remain current and how the program could be measured through pre- and post-assessments, with DARE helping support those measures. A related component, Keeping It Real, could provide parent education. The broader discussion also emphasized strengthening the relationship among students, families, schools, the Zachary Police Department, and the community. (June 23, 2026)

The district then presented its 2025–2026 end-of-year discipline data. The presentation showed 4,593 referrals involving 1,661 students, or 31.2% of district enrollment. The three most common referral categories were cell phone violations, willful disobedience, and habitual tardiness or absence.

The presentation also broke discipline data down by race and ethnicity. Black students represented 64.3% of enrollment and 81.6% of discipline referrals, while White students represented 29.2% of enrollment and 13.3% of referrals. Hispanic students represented 4.8% of enrollment and 4.7% of referrals.

The district also reviewed long-term suspension data for 10–89 days, major referrals, and expulsion recommendations. The end-of-year summary identified 72 total recommendations, including 61 expulsion recommendations and 11 long-term suspensions. Substance-, THC-, and vape-related incidents accounted for 27 of the 72 recommendations, or 37.5%, making that the largest category. Zachary High School accounted for 47 recommendations, and 10th grade had the highest grade-level rate, followed by 11th and 9th grades.

Dr. London noted that some of the long-term suspension information did not clearly show the actual student counts and requested that those counts be added so the board and public could more easily understand the scope of the outcomes being presented.

During the broader discipline discussion, concern was also raised about the board’s independent role when reviewing expulsion appeals. The board serves as an appellate body and must evaluate each case based on the evidence presented rather than assuming that an administrative recommendation should automatically be affirmed. (June 23, 2026; July 14, 2026)

Expulsion Policy & Student Interventions

The board also returned to File JDE – Expulsions. Dr. London reminded the board that the purpose of the proposed revisions was not simply to change how long students could be removed from school, but to establish clearer expectations for the kinds of interventions and supports students should receive.

The discussion included potential use of restorative practices, counseling, student check-ins, Vector courses, parent education, mentoring, community interventions, and probationary privileges. The goal was to provide clearer direction to administrators about the types of supports expected, particularly when a student has an early or first encounter involving substances or THC on campus. (June 23, 2026)

The board tabled File JDE in June so that the issue could receive further discussion at the July Committee of the Whole. (June 23, 2026)

Because the July 7 Committee of the Whole was later canceled for lack of a quorum, File JDE moved to the July 14 Regular Board agenda. Dr. London again moved to table the item so that it could receive the fuller discussion that had originally been planned. (June 23, 2026; July 14, 2026)

Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook

The board also considered the 2026–2027 Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook in June. That item was tabled until July so that the board could continue its discussion. (June 23, 2026)

When the handbook returned in July, it was approved. During discussion, Dr. London raised concern that two matters previously discussed in the Discipline Committee had not been incorporated into the version presented for approval: the proposed reduction of the district’s maximum long-term suspension period and concerns related to the Copper Mill Elementary homework/work-return policy.

Those issues remained part of the board’s broader discipline and policy work even after adoption of the handbook. (July 14, 2026)

Superintendent Evaluation

The board completed the superintendent’s annual evaluation in June. Mr. Ben Necaise received a Highly Effective rating of 3.70. Board members acknowledged his work, and Mr. Necaise thanked the board for its feedback and support. (June 23, 2026)

Employee Compensation Tax Initiative

One of the largest developments of the summer was voter approval of the district’s employee-compensation tax initiative.

In June, the board received updates on community forums and outreach occurring ahead of the vote. The board also approved the 2026–2027 district budget and an initial 2026–2027 salary schedule, while discussing how employee compensation could change if the tax proposition passed. (June 23, 2026)

The community approved the proposition in the June 27 special election. The measure authorized a 24-mill ad valorem tax for 20 years, beginning in tax year 2026, with proceeds available for school-system purposes including salaries and benefits.

At a special meeting on June 30, the board approved a revised 2026–2027 salary schedule following passage of the tax. The revised schedule was presented by Mr. Musso and Mrs. Williams. (June 30, 2026 Special Board Meeting)

In July, the board continued the formal implementation process by addressing the canvassing of election returns, the proces verbal of the vote, the resolution levying the tax, and a General Fund budget revision. (July 14, 2026)

Employee Benefits & Insurance

At the July 14 meeting, the board received its annual employee-benefits presentation from Gallagher.

The presentation reviewed plan financials, renewal history, carrier options, and recommendations for the 2026–2027 plan year. Medical coverage with LA Blue was recommended for renewal with a 2.5% increase. Gallagher recommended keeping the district’s Health Savings Account employer contribution at its current level, with district contributions of $1,500 for employee-only coverage, $2,250 for employee plus spouse or children, and $3,000 for family coverage. The recommendation also included continuing efforts to encourage additional participation in the HSA-qualified plan.

The final recommendations included:

• renewing medical coverage with LA Blue;

• moving dental and vision to Sun Life for reduced premiums and enhanced coverage;

• moving disability and life coverage to The Hartford;

• and renewing critical illness/cancer coverage with Unum without plan or rate changes.

The board approved the insurance recommendations. (July 14, 2026)

Meal Prices

The board also considered adjustments to school meal prices for 2026–2027. The approved changes included:

• student breakfast: $2.00

• staff breakfast: $3.00

• elementary lunch: $2.50

• middle/high school lunch: $3.00

• staff lunch: $6.00

• visitor lunch: $6.00

The changes were presented as part of the district’s effort to respond to food, labor, packaging, and equipment costs while maintaining the financial stability of the Child Nutrition Program. (July 14, 2026)

Workforce & Administrative Leadership

In June, the board approved administrative contracts for Jeffery Hand, Director; Kayln Gauthier, Supervisor; Lindsey Spence, Supervisor; Timothy Jordan, Principal; Brittini Matthews, Freshman Academy Coordinator; and Justin Thompson, Freshman Academy Coordinator. (June 23, 2026)

In July, the board considered additional assistant-principal contracts for Kynetra Hawkins and Steven McDonald. (July 14, 2026)

Facilities, Safety & District Operations

In June, the board approved renewal of the district’s contract with Fennwood Hills Country Club for the use of athletic facilities and approved a cooperative endeavor agreement with the City of Zachary for School Resource Officers and crossing guards for the 2026–2027 school year. (June 23, 2026)

The district also clarified that DARE implementation would move forward, while an iCare contract remained under consideration. (June 23, 2026)

Fiscal Oversight & Audit

In July, the board considered several fiscal-oversight items, including the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire, the district’s 2025–2026 audit engagement with EisnerAmper, and the General Fund budget revision.

The compliance questionnaire is a required part of the annual financial audit process and must be formally adopted by the governing body in an open meeting.

Policy, Governance & Board Procedures

Several governance issues carried across June and July.

In June, the board approved corrections to prior meeting records. The December 2, 2025 minutes were amended to show that the vote on Policy JCDB – Student Dress Code had passed rather than failed. The board also adopted a resolution correcting the January 2026 record concerning Policy JDA and affirming the December 2025 action on Policy IDDF. (June 23, 2026)

The board also approved Dr. London’s registration to attend the Southeastern Regional Leadership Conference in July. (June 23, 2026)

In July, several policy and procedure items were affected by the canceled Committee of the Whole. Dr. London moved to table the travel procedures and policy discussion so the board members who had been leading that work could be present to participate.

She also moved to table File JDE – Expulsions and the broader policy-review process, because those items had been moved from the canceled Committee of the Whole to the Regular Board Meeting without the planned committee discussion. The goal was to preserve the board’s two-step discussion-and-action process rather than move the items forward without the fuller conversation. (July 14, 2026)

Legal & Board Oversight

At Dr. London’s request, the board entered executive session in July to review litigation involving the district during the 2023–2026 board term, including active, resolved, and pending matters.

The request was intended to ensure that board members had a broader understanding of the district’s litigation history and current legal matters as part of their governance and oversight responsibilities. (July 14, 2026)

There were no student expulsion appeals scheduled for the July meeting. (July 14, 2026)

Actions Taken

Across June and July, the board:

• approved the 2026–2027 district budget (June 23);

• approved the initial 2026–2027 salary schedule (June 23);

• approved the revised 2026–2027 salary schedule following passage of the tax initiative (June 30 Special Meeting);

• completed additional actions related to implementation of the voter-approved compensation tax (July 14);

• approved multiple administrative contracts (June 23 and July 14);

• approved the 2026–2027 employee-benefit recommendations (July 14);

• approved 2026–2027 meal-price adjustments (July 14);

• approved the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire and audit-related items (July 14);

• approved the 2026–2027 Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook (July 14);

• renewed the Fennwood Hills Country Club athletic-facilities agreement (June 23);

• renewed the agreement with the City of Zachary for SROs and crossing guards (June 23);

• approved Dr. London’s Southeastern Regional Leadership Conference registration (June 23);

• corrected previous board minutes and records (June 23);

• and tabled travel procedures, File JDE, and policy review for further discussion (July 14).

  
  

Looking Ahead

Items continuing into the next phase of board work included File JDE – Expulsions, long-term suspension policy, student interventions, DARE and possible iCare implementation, discipline outcomes, the policy-review process, board travel procedures, advisory-board outcomes, and continued implementation of the newly approved employee-compensation funding. (June 23 and July 14, 2026)