The Washington Parish School Board met for its regular meeting on Thursday, October 15. The minutes for the September 10 Regular Board Meeting and the September 24 Special Board Meeting were approved. This was followed by the presentation of the August 2026 financial statements by Finance Director Dana Knight. These were previously presented at the Finance Committee meeting.
Next the Board approved granting Hancock Whitney Bank the Fiscal Agency Contract for a period of one year beginning November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027. This was followed by an acknowledgement of donations received April through June 2026. Per state law, all donations are made public. These are posted on wpsb.org.
The Board then adopted a resolution to remove withdrawal privileges from Stacy Bond on all Mt. Hermon School bank accounts. Ms. Bond has retired and no longer serves as principal. Audience member Rebecca Foley questioned the Board concerning who has the authority to sign school checks as there is currently no interim principal. Jennifer Benninato has been assigned to work in the absence of a principal but is not officially designated as interim, and she cannot sign checks. Superintendent Jennifer Thomas has the sole authority to sign checks for Mt. Hermon School until a new principal is hired. The vacant principal’s position at Mount Hermon School has been advertised for two weeks and there have been no applicants. So the application period has been extended another two weeks with the hope that there will be applicants. If not, the Board will look at appointing an interim.
Next, the Board adopted the Direct Student Services Budget for the 2026/2027 fiscal year. This budget is designed for ACT preparation materials and administration. Also adopted were the Title I Budget revision, the Title II Budget revision, and the REAP Budget revision, all for the 2026/2027 fiscal year. Audience member Brandi Kerbow expressed her confusion with the budgets and Title I Director of Federal Programs Christina McMillian explained the nuances of the budget.
The Board then approved a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Pine Junior Athletic Football Association and Pine Basketball Association. The are annual agreements for use of the property and the endeavors were split this year between the two associations that use the property and pay the utility bills and upkeep of the grounds. Board Attorney Matt Garver added that both associations carry insurance.
Next was the approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between Washington Parish School Board and Washington Parish Government regarding Opioid settlement funds. Attorney Matt Garver explained that the parish government received a settlement from a recent class action lawsuit against opioid drug producers and this money has strict guidelines attached to it. The school system received a significant amount, and it was used to purchase handheld metal detectors for each school, two stand-alone metal detectors, THC and other substance detectors as well as drug testing kits. Garver pointed out that the funds to parish government will be available well into the future as they are to be used to stop the abuse of opioids. Superintendent Jennifer Thomas added that the turnaround this year was quick after she requested a portion of the money and the system can look at different items next year.
Assistant Superintendent Lisa Magee then asked the board to approve a motion to adopt revised Washington Parish School Board Policy File: 308.00-Public Records. She emphatically noted that this is not a new policy but simply establishing a fee schedule for records. While most people have computers to see public records, Garver explained that many still would rather a paper copy and this is what the fee is being established for.
The final item of business by the Board was the adoption of the schedule of school board meetings for 2027. Mrs. Thomas clarified that new board members in 2027 may want to make changes, but October is the traditional time for setting the next year's meetings.
In the Superintendent's Report, Thomas announced that the November meeting will be held on November 12 at Wesley Ray Elementary School. She also announced the dates for Special Olympics at Pine and Franklinton High Schools and reminded everyone that schools will be closed on November 3 for Election Day. Before the final item, Board President Lesley McKinley thanked Director of Finance Dana Knight for her hard work and dedication to Washington Parish Schools and wished her well in her new position as Director of Finance at Washington Parish Government.
The Board then approved a motion to enter into Executive Session concerning pending litigation in the matter of Giles, ET AL. vs Washington Parish School Board, CIV. Action No. 2:26-cv-02156, United States District Court Eastern District of Louisiana. Some Mount Hermon residents and School Board member Keith Giles of District 1 (Mount Hermon) had sought a restraining order against the school board to prevent the implementation of changes that would transfer Mount Hermon School’s junior high and high school students to Franklinton schools beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
However, a federal judge refused to issue the restraining order during a hearing held earlier this month. The judge’s decision does not end a lawsuit filed by the residents and Giles against the school board, but it does deny the issuance of a restraining order.
Prior to the motion to enter into executive session to discuss the status of the lawsuit, Board President Lesley McKinley read a statement asking Giles to recuse himself because he is a plaintiff in the lawsuit and his presence in the executive session would constitute a conflict of interest. Mr. Giles objected but then agreed to excuse himself. The Board then entered executive session and the regular public meeting ended.
Public bodies such as the school board are permitted by law to enter into executive session (no spectators, no media) to discuss pending litigation.
