Dear Beloved EBRPSS Team,
Today marks one year since I had the honor of being appointed Superintendent of Schools here in Baton Rouge. I wanted to take a moment to pause, reflect, and most importantly, thank you. Your support, trust, and commitment to our students and schools have meant the world to me. A week before being appointed, I honestly didn’t think this opportunity was even on the table. I had begun mapping out a different path for my life and was excited about those plans. But life has a way of surprising us, and sometimes the road leads you right back home. A year later, I am still humbled and deeply honored to serve this city, this district, and each of you.
The past school year was filled with incredible moments. We’ve taken bold steps to improve student achievement, expand learning opportunities, and build stronger school communities. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together in just 12 months, and I know we’ve only just begun. At the heart of all this progress is a simple but powerful idea: Students First. Every decision we made, starting with our renewed Strategic Plan, was grounded in this principle. With the School Board’s partnership, we now have a focused roadmap centered on three pillars: student achievement, operational excellence, and employee development. These priorities are guiding how we grow as a district.
We also dared to reimagine how we serve our students. The Board’s approval of the Students First Realignment Plan, including the hard decision to close nine underutilized schools, was a major milestone. I know those were difficult conversations, but they were necessary to ensure we’re reinvesting resources where they matter most. We’re especially excited to launch our new Foundational Learning Centers at Melrose and Merrydale, focusing on literacy and numeracy for our youngest learners. And we’re making real progress in other areas, too, from adjusted start times at several schools to better align with student needs, to preparing schools for stronger academic success and support.
On May 3, our community showed up in a big way by voting to renew five critical millages. These renewals, not new taxes, will continue to fund teacher salaries, classroom instruction, and student wellness. Over the next decade, they’ll generate nearly $100 million annually to sustain the foundation of public education in EBR. That kind of unity and commitment from our community is powerful.
Of course, we haven’t solved every issue. We have a big district, and I know there are areas we haven’t gotten to yet. Some of you are feeling that. I want to acknowledge your concerns and assure you I hear you. Real change takes time. We’re not going to fix everything overnight. But I believe in the work. And I believe the success is in the support.
That’s why we’ve sent district staff into schools to offer hands-on support. That’s why we’re doubling down this year, investing in teachers and principals, building up leadership, and focusing on real, lasting improvement. We’re setting the bar high, and we’ll keep striving to meet and exceed it.
I also want to be real with you: I’m going to make mistakes. But I promise you this: I will always lead with our children’s best interests at heart. Every plan, every change, every hard decision, we do it for them.
Looking ahead, I’m excited. We’ve got momentum, and we’ve got a team ready to keep pushing forward. I invite all of you to stay involved, stay vocal, and help us shape what’s next. Greatness is not out of reach, we just have to keep showing up for it.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for believing in our students, in our schools, and in each other.
Let’s keep daring to be great together.
With gratitude,
LaMont Cole
Superintendent of Schools, East Baton Rouge Parish School System
