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East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Louisiana
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System |
|---|
 |
| Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| District details |
| Superintendent: LaMont Cole |
| # of school board members: 9 |
| Website: Link |
East Baton Rouge Parish School System is a school district in Louisiana.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
 |
This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
LaMont Cole is the superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. His contract started on August 1, 2024. At the time he was named superintendent, Cole was serving as the District 7 representative of the Baton Rouge Metro Council.[1]
Past superintendents
- Adam Smith was the interim superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. He took on the position from January 23, 2024, to July 23, 2024, due to a state law that requires interim superintendents to serve no more than six months.[2]
- Sito Narcisse was appointed superintendent on January 14, 2021, and served until January 23, 2024.[2] Narcisse's previous career experience included working as a chief of secondary schools with the District of Columbia Public Schools; chief of schools with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools; teacher, principal, and associate superintendent with Prince George’s County Public Schools; and director of school performance and acting chief school improvement officer with Montgomery County Public Schools.[3][4]
- Warren Drake was the superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System from 2015 to 2020. Drake's previous career experience included working as a teacher, principal, and assistant principal in the district.[5]
- Bernard Taylor, Jr. was the superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish School System from 2012 to 2015. Taylor's previous career experience included working as the superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools and Kansas City Public Schools, and as a teacher and principal in Pittsburgh Public Schools.[6]
School board
Elections
All nine seats on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board are up for election in November every four years.
The district held a special primary for one seat was on March 23, 2024. A general election, if needed, was scheduled for April 27, 2024.
Louisiana elections use the Louisiana majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
On January 1, 2015, the number of seats on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board was reduced from 11 to nine. Members serve four-year terms.[7][8]
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 1 | Mark Bellue | 2015 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 2 | Dadrius Lanus | 2019 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 3 | Carla Powell | January 1, 2023 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 4 | Shashonnie Steward | January 1, 2023 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 5 | Cliff Lewis | January 1, 2023 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 6 | Nathan Rust | January 1, 2023 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 7 | Michael Gaudet | 2017 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 8 | Emily Soulé | April 11, 2024 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish School System, District 9 | Patrick Martin | January 1, 2023 |
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System receptionist provides physical copies of “Citizen’s Guide to the Conduct of EBR School Board Meetings”. All regularly scheduled board meetings are open to the public and begin at 5:00 p.m. local time.[9]
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[10]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $115,479,000 | $2,867 | 16% |
| Local: | $395,080,000 | $9,808 | 56% |
| State: | $188,730,000 | $4,685 | 27% |
| Total: | $699,289,000 | $17,359 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $648,024,000 | $16,086 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $575,111,000 | $14,276 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $301,777,000 | $7,491 | 47% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $81,303,000 | $2,018 | 13% |
| Administration: | $68,593,000 | $1,702 | 11% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $123,438,000 | $3,064 | 19% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $24,976,000 | $620 | |
| Construction: | $16,701,000 | $414 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $745,000 | $18 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $377,000 | $9 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025[11] | $50,000 | $89,400 |
| 2022-2023[12] | $47,800 | $87,200 |
| 2021[13] | $45,500 | $84,900 |
| 2020[14] | $45,500 | $84,900 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[15]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 22 | 69 | 15 | 18 | 40-49 | 35-39 | 55 |
| 2018-2019 | 58 | 91 | 54 | 45 | 70-79 | 70-74 | 84 |
| 2017-2018 | 55 | 89 | 51 | 46 | 40-59 | 70-74 | 82 |
| 2016-2017 | 55 | 88 | 51 | 45 | 60-79 | 70-74 | 80 |
| 2015-2016 | 58 | 89 | 53 | 53 | >=80 | 70-74 | 81 |
| 2014-2015 | 53 | 88 | 49 | 53 | 60-79 | 70-74 | 78 |
| 2013-2014 | 62 | 90 | 58 | 62 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 84 |
| 2012-2013 | 65 | 92 | 61 | 65 | 40-59 | 80-84 | 84 |
| 2011-2012 | 66 | 91 | 61 | 65 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 88 |
| 2010-2011 | 59 | 89 | 54 | 64 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 84 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 34 | 75 | 28 | 25 | 40-49 | 45-49 | 68 |
| 2018-2019 | 65 | 88 | 63 | 48 | 70-79 | 80-84 | 87 |
| 2017-2018 | 64 | 86 | 61 | 48 | 70-79 | 80-84 | 86 |
| 2016-2017 | 61 | 85 | 58 | 47 | 60-79 | 75-79 | 85 |
| 2015-2016 | 65 | 86 | 62 | 57 | 60-79 | 75-79 | 85 |
| 2014-2015 | 64 | 84 | 60 | 60 | >=80 | 80-84 | 86 |
| 2013-2014 | 62 | 87 | 58 | 59 | 60-79 | 75-79 | 86 |
| 2012-2013 | 67 | 88 | 64 | 64 | 60-79 | 75-79 | 87 |
| 2011-2012 | 64 | 85 | 60 | 61 | 60-79 | 80-84 | 86 |
| 2010-2011 | 59 | 83 | 55 | 57 | 60-79 | 75-79 | 82 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 75 | >=95 | 75 | 55-59 | PS | 60-79 | 80 |
| 2018-2019 | 69 | 90-94 | 69 | 40-44 | PS | >=80 | 77 |
| 2017-2018 | 72 | 90-94 | 72 | 45-49 | PS | 60-79 | 78 |
| 2016-2017 | 67 | 80-84 | 67 | 40-44 | PS | >=50 | 73 |
| 2015-2016 | 68 | 90-94 | 66 | 50-54 | PS | >=50 | 75-79 |
| 2014-2015 | 67 | 85-89 | 65 | 50-54 | PS | >=80 | 79 |
| 2013-2014 | 66 | 90-94 | 64 | 60-64 | PS | >=80 | 72 |
| 2012-2013 | 69 | 90-94 | 66 | 60-64 | PS | >=50 | 76 |
| 2011-2012 | 66 | 85-89 | 63 | 50-54 | PS | >=50 | 76 |
| 2010-2011 | 63 | 80-84 | 61 | 55-59 | PS | >=50 | 75 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 43,253 | 5.1 |
| 2021-2022 | 41,043 | 1.9 |
| 2020-2021 | 40,283 | -2.5 |
| 2019-2020 | 41,291 | 1.5 |
| 2018-2019 | 40,668 | 0.9 |
| 2017-2018 | 40,285 | -0.7 |
| 2016-2017 | 40,579 | -2.6 |
| 2015-2016 | 41,617 | -0.6 |
| 2014-2015 | 41,850 | -0.2 |
| 2013-2014 | 41,937 | -2.5 |
| 2012-2013 | 42,982 | 0.3 |
| 2011-2012 | 42,854 | 0.3 |
| 2010-2011 | 42,723 | 1.0 |
| 2009-2010 | 42,307 | -3.7 |
| 2008-2009 | 43,869 | -4.2 |
| 2007-2008 | 45,714 | -7.6 |
| 2006-2007 | 49,197 | -1.5 |
| 2005-2006 | 49,945 | 7.1 |
| 2004-2005 | 46,408 | -0.5 |
| 2003-2004 | 46,644 | -12.4 |
| 2002-2003 | 52,434 | 0.2 |
| 2001-2002 | 52,350 | -3.6 |
| 2000-2001 | 54,246 | -2.6 |
| 1999-2000 | 55,652 | 0.0 |
| RACE | East Baton Rouge Parish School System (%) | Louisiana K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.7 | 1.6 |
| Black | 68.3 | 41.6 |
| Hispanic | 14.7 | 10.6 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 1.4 | 3.6 |
| White | 11.5 | 42.0 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, East Baton Rouge Parish School System had 2,398.52 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 18.03.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 77.46 |
| Kindergarten: | 132.27 |
| Elementary: | 1,394.48 |
| Secondary: | 794.31 |
| Total: | 2,398.52 |
East Baton Rouge Parish School System employed 1.46 district administrators and 208.44 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 1.46 |
| District Administrative Support: | 35.15 |
| School Administrators: | 208.44 |
| School Administrative Support: | 198.67 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 600.35 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 120.74 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 146.79 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 58.24 |
| Library/Media Support: | 3.87 |
| Student Support Services: | 91.05 |
| Other Support Services: | 450.85 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2024: Recall effort
An effort to recall five of the nine members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System school board in Louisiana did not go to a vote. The effort began in July 2024. District 1 representative Mark Bellue (R), District 6 representative Nathan Rust (R), District 7 representative Michael Gaudet (R), District 8 representative Emily Soulé (R), and District 9 representative Patrick Martin (R) were named in the recall petitions.[16][7]
The recall effort started after board members did not choose a new superintendent for the district during a meeting on July 11, 2024.[17] The two finalists for the position both withdrew their nominations the following week.[18] Interim Superintendent Adam Smith's contract was scheduled to end on July 23, 2024, due to a state law that required interim superintendents serve no more than six months.[16][2] The board named LaMont Cole the district's new superintendent and approved his contract with a 7-0 vote on August 1, 2024.[19]
Bellue assumed office in 2015 and was re-elected to a four-year term on the board in 2022. Gaudet assumed office in 2017 and won re-election in the same 2022 election. Rust and Martin were first elected to the board in the 2022 election, and Soulé won election to the board in a special election on March 23, 2024.
2020: Recall effort
A recall petition seeking to remove Connie Bernard (R) from her position as the District 8 representative on the East Baton Rouge Parish School System school board in Louisiana was filed on June 23, 2020. The recall effort did not go to a vote as recall supporters were unable to collect the required number of signatures (approximately 7,600) by the filing deadline on December 21, 2020.[16][20]
The effort started after four Democratic members of the school board—District 2 representative Dadrius Lanus, District 3 representative Tramelle Howard, District 4 representative Dawn Collins, and District 5 representative Evelyn Ware-Jackson—called for Bernard to resign following a local TV interview where she said she hoped that anyone offended by the name of the district's Lee Magnet High School "would learn a little bit more about General Lee, because General Lee inherited a large plantation and he was tasked with the job of doing something with those people who lived in bondage to that plantation, the slaves, and he freed them."[16][21]
The recall petition was filed after the deadline the four board members set had passed and Bernard did not resign. Bernard's TV interview was held on June 10, 2020, prior to the board's scheduled debate on changing the school's name. During the discussion on the name change on June 18, 2020, Bernard was accused of shopping online for dresses.[16]
Bernard apologized for her comments during the interview, calling the comments insensitive and saying she was deeply sorry. She also denied that she had been shopping during the board meeting on June 18, 2020, saying she had neglected to close a pop-up ad. Bernard said she planned to "continue to serve all students as elected by my district three times."[16]
Bernard was elected to her third term in 2018 after running unopposed. Her term was due to end on December 31, 2022, and due to term limits, she could not run again.[16]
2015: Closed high school in district returns to local control
In 2012, the Louisiana Recovery School District took over control of Baton Rouge school Istrouma High School.[22] The school was closed in 2014. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board was granted control over the school on January 13, 2015, after agreeing to pay for any costs associated with reopening the school. In the 2015-2016 school year, the school was merged with Capitol High School and reopened at Capitol's campus. Istrouma reopened on its own campus in 2017.[23][24][25][26]
Contact information
East Baton Rouge Parish School System
1050 S. Foster Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Phone: 225-922-5400
About school boards
Education legislation in Louisiana
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Louisiana | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- East Baton Rouge Parish School System
- Louisiana School Board Association
- Louisiana Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ The Advocate, "LaMont Cole gets a $285K salary as top Baton Rouge schools leader. See his pay incentives." August 1, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Advocate, "Baton Rouge school leader changes: Out with Sito Narcisse, in with Adam Smith ... for now," January 23, 2024
- ↑ The Advocate, "Meet Baton Rouge's new school leader: Sito Narcisse makes first visit day after school board vote," January 15, 2021
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Parish School System, "Superintendent & Leadership: Meet the Leadership Team," accessed March 22, 2021
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Parish School System, "Superintendent and Leadership," accessed October 29, 2019
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Schools.org, "Superintendent Bio," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 East Baton Rouge Schools.org, "Board Home," accessed April 30, 2014 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "board" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ The Advocate, "EBR School Board agrees to downsize to 9 members," July 25, 2014
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Parish School System, "School board: Board Members and Board Meeting Info," accessed March 22, 2021
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Parish School System, "2024-2025 Salary Schedules," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Parish School System, "2022-2023 Salary Schedules," accessed February 3, 2024
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Parish School System, "2020-2021 Salary Schedules," accessed March 22, 2021
- ↑ East Baton Rouge Parish School System, "2019-2020 Salary Schedules," accessed March 22, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 WBZR 2, "Petitions filed to remove five EBR School Board members following stagnant superintendent vote," July 12, 2024 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "began" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ WBRZ 2, "East Baton Rouge School Board adjourns with no vote on superintendent, new vote next Thursday," July 11, 2024
- ↑ WBRZ 2, "And then there were none: Last finalist ends quest to be EBR schools superintendent. What now?" July 18, 2024
- ↑ The Advocate, "LaMont Cole gets a $285K salary as top Baton Rouge schools leader. See his pay incentives." August 1, 2024
- ↑ The Advocate, "After profanity-laced encounter at teen party, School Board's Connie Bernard pleads guilty," December 23, 2020
- ↑ brproud.com, "EBR school board member on a mission to rename Lee High," June 10, 2020
- ↑ WAFB9, "Istrouma H.S. taken over by the State's Recovery School Dist.," April 25, 2012
- ↑ The Advocate, "Istrouma High renovations moving forward with new influx of cash coming," December 8, 2017
- ↑ The Advocate, "BESE committee approves return of Istrouma High to EBR system," January 12, 2016
- ↑ The Advocate, "Drake says charter competition has East Baton Rouge schools in ‘fight for our lives’," January 30, 2016
- ↑ The Advocate, "Istrouma High reopening may be delayed; superintendent unsure can meet August opening," January 25, 2016
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