School Board Meetings Summary, May 2026

Zachary Community School Board | District 8

Compiled by Dr. Crystal London, District 8 Board Member

May’s meetings focused on district finances, student recognitions, administrative contracts, student fees, the upcoming tax proposition, expulsion policy, policy audit planning, and board travel procedures. Across the Committee of the Whole and the Regular Board Meeting, the board reviewed budget updates, celebrated student achievement, continued public planning around compensation, and revisited several governance items connected to the 2026–2027 school year. (May 5, 2026; May 19, 2026)

Recognitions

• Recognized the State Powerlifting Heavyweight Champion. (May 19, 2026) 

• Recognized a student named LSCA Second Team Freshman All-State in Soccer. (May 19, 2026) 

• Recognized LMEA award recipients. (May 19, 2026) 

• Recognized NMS Thespian award recipients. (May 19, 2026) 

• Recognized NMS Youth Legislature award recipients, including recognition of strong performance in the school’s first year of participation. (May 19, 2026) 

Superintendent Update

The superintendent’s update highlighted recent state-level announcements about student growth in Louisiana, including discussion of gains in Math and ELA at both the aggregate level and among student groups. The update also pointed families toward upcoming public forums connected to the tax proposition, with the first forum scheduled for June 4. (May 19, 2026)

Finance, Budget, & Operations

The Committee of the Whole included the district’s regular financial presentation, with discussion centered on actual revenues and expenditures in relation to the adopted budget. The board also reviewed the district’s debt service position, including discussion of an approximate $900,000 surplus in that fund, and looked at ongoing capital improvement work across the district. That discussion included roofing projects, track-related spending, prepayment for an additional high school roofing project, and summer facility updates such as painted flooring at Rollins Place Elementary. The board also continued discussion of the upcoming tax plan proposition and later reviewed the Tax Plan Strategic Funding Plan for Compensation, which outlined how funds would be used if the proposition is approved by voters. (May 5, 2026; May 19, 2026)

Workforce, Contracts, & Student Fees

The board began review of proposed administrative contract renewals for the upcoming term. The meeting materials listed renewals for one supervisor, two principals, and five assistant principals, each running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. During the discussion, it was clarified that under Act 1, the board’s role is not to negotiate the detailed terms of those contracts, but to ensure that they align with law and policy and do not raise concerns requiring amendment. The board also reviewed the proposed Appendix to File JS: Student Fees, Fines, and Charges Policy for the 2026–2027 school year. At the Regular Board Meeting, both the administrative contracts and the student fees item were removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion and were later approved. (May 5, 2026; May 19, 2026)

Policy & Governance

Policy and governance discussion in May focused heavily on two areas: expulsions and the possible district policy audit. The board revisited File JDE – Expulsions, continuing a conversation that grew out of a recent student hearing and a desire to identify stronger intervention, prevention, and support tools before students reach the point of expulsion. Interest was raised in exploring supports such as DARE and iCare, along with future presentations on student outcomes so the board can monitor whether adopted interventions are actually working. (May 5, 2026) 

At the Regular Board Meeting, the board also continued discussion of a possible district policy audit. Questions were raised about possible legal costs and about whether beginning a large review process would leave too much for a future board to inherit. In response, it was emphasized that board policy is one of the board’s core responsibilities, alongside budget oversight and superintendent oversight, and that the board could define a process that was both manageable and useful. Options discussed included reviewing a set number of policies per month, focusing on older policies above a certain age threshold, identifying critical policy areas, or allowing board members to flag specific policies for review. It was also clarified that board members would do the initial review work and suggest changes, with legal counsel assisting in drafting revisions as needed. The board then voted to move forward with the policy audit process. (May 5, 2026; May 19, 2026)

Board Professional Learning & Travel Procedures

The board used the professional learning portion of the Committee of the Whole to discuss travel procedures and conference participation, including whether a clearer protocol should be developed for prioritizing limited travel funds among board members. This conversation also connected to a request for permission and funding for Dr. London to attend the Southern Region Leadership Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas, July 19–21, 2026. At the Regular Board Meeting, the vice president reiterated the goal of creating a clearer board protocol, and both the broader travel discussion and the related funding request were tabled so that all board members could be present for the conversation. (May 5, 2026; May 19, 2026)

Actions Taken

• Approved minutes from the April 21, 2026 Board Meeting and the May 5, 2026 Committee of the Whole Meeting. (May 19, 2026) 

• Removed administrative contracts and student fees from the consent agenda for standalone review. (May 19, 2026) 

• Approved the administrative contracts. (May 19, 2026) 

• Approved the Appendix to File JS: Student Fees, Fines, and Charges Policy for the 2026–2027 school year. (May 19, 2026) 

• Continued standalone discussion on the tax plan proposition and the strategic funding plan for compensation. (May 19, 2026) 

• Approved moving forward with the district policy audit process. (May 19, 2026)

• Tabled the travel procedures discussion and the related request for conference funding so that all board members could be present. (May 19, 2026) 

• Heard a closed-session student expulsion appeal for student KW and voted to modify the timeline. (May 19, 2026) 

• Discussed agenda items for the next board meeting and then adjourned. (May 19, 2026) 

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, the board continued preparing for public tax proposition forums and for further discussion around expulsion policy, policy audit planning, board travel procedures, and 2026–2027 student fees. May also reinforced that several of these conversations will continue into the summer, especially those related to compensation, policy review, and student support structures. (May 5, 2026; May 19, 2026)

Taken together, May’s meetings reflected a board balancing routine year-end planning with larger questions about compensation, policy review, student support, and governance practice. The month included strong student recognitions, continued discussion of how to structure major board work responsibly, and several decisions that will shape the district’s next school year. As the board moves into summer, public engagement around the tax proposition and continued attention to policy and student outcomes will remain central. (May 5, 2026; May 19, 2026)

Thank you to everyone who attended meetings, shared perspectives, and remained engaged. For full details or to share questions, feedback, or concerns, visit www.ZCSD8.org or contact me at drcrystallondon@gmail.com.