Dear St. Landry Parish Community Members,

I am writing to you today about a critical opportunity to invest in the future of our children, our schools, and our entire community.  On the ballot in the upcoming May 2026 election, you will find a proposed millage/ bond initiative designed to establish a sustainable funding stream to address critical needs in safety, staff compensation, and competitive student performance programs.

It has been 40 years since St. Landry Parish citizens last voted to levy a new millage to support education. Think about that for a moment: 1986. In the decades since, the cost of everything has increased dramatically, yet our operational budget has largely remained frozen in time. We are attempting to provide a 21st-century education with a 1986 financial framework. This is simply unsustainable.

Consider the rising cost of essential educational resources today: cutting-edge technology, necessary software licenses, and even basic utilities have soared. Operating on a budget that was last significantly updated four decades ago means our teachers, support staff, and students are often doing more with less, which is not fair to anyone.

One of our most pressing needs is to provide a much-deserved raise to our dedicated teachers and support personnel, who are an indispensable foundation of our success, guiding and supporting the students who will become tomorrow's leaders. This commitment will help us attract and retain the best talent in the classroom and across all support roles, ensuring the highest quality experience for every student. This initiative includes a permanent $2,500 annual salary increase for all employees, impacting approximately 1,700 employees in the 2026-2027 school year.

Securing our schools is another paramount concern. In today’s world, ensuring the physical safety and emotional well-being of our students and staff is non-negotiable. This millage will provide dedicated funding for crucial safety and security capital projects, including installing metal detectors at 37 sites, adding fencing to campuses in need, and deploying new IP camera security systems. Furthermore, it will support the hiring of essential personnel: school counselors, nurses, and school resource officers (SROs), creating a safer and more supportive learning environment for every child.

We also want our student-athletes to have every opportunity to succeed. Our plan includes installing tracks and turf football/soccer fields at 6 high schools, allowing our student-athletes to compete on state-of-the-art facilities that match those in surrounding districts. For our incredibly talented students at the Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts (MACA), this initiative will finally provide a dedicated MACA Auditorium where they can rehearse and showcase their artistic talents in a proper venue.

I understand there may be misinformation circulating, particularly regarding racino money. Let me be clear: the funds generated from the racino contribute approximately ???? to our district, which is specifically allocated to pay the salaries of our 13 career and technical education teachers. While this funding is vital, it is a dedicated source for a specific purpose and cannot address the broad, systemic financial needs outlined in this millage and bond initiative.

We simply cannot compete with surrounding districts that have the financial backing of their communities through modern millages. Every surrounding district boasts a millage rate 10+ mills higher than ours in St. Landry Parish. This disparity puts us at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to attracting teachers, upgrading facilities, and offering the kinds of programs our students deserve. This initiative is about leveling the playing field for St. Landry Parish.

This millage is an investment that will benefit everyone. Our students will gain access to better competitive program facilities and safer schools, our staff will receive additional compensation, our community members will see improved educational outcomes and safer environments, and property owners will see the value of their investments grow as our schools strengthen.

I implore you, the citizens of St. Landry Parish, to consider the facts. Please visit the dedicated bond pages on our website to access informational materials and make an informed decision about this critical millage and bond. We have provided a millage calculator, so you can easily see the tax impact this investment would have on you.

Together, we can build a more promising future for St. Landry Parish. Let's provide our schools with the resources they need and our children with the opportunities they deserve.

Sincerely,

Milton Batiste, III

Superintendent, St. Landry Parish School Board