Home / St. George Community School System FAQ
ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS CONDITIONED UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE ST. GEORGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL SYSTEM BALLOT ITEM ON MAY 16, 2026.
Polls are open from 7am to 8pm on May 16th. Early voting is May 2nd – 9th (excluding Sunday, May 3rd) from 8:30a – 6p.
Act No. 218 is a joint resolution that proposes an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution to officially recognize the St. George community school system as a parish-equivalent entity. This designation would grant the new system the same legal authority as other parishes to receive state funding, such as the Minimum Foundation Program, and to raise local revenues for its schools.
All registered voters in Louisiana may vote on the constitutional amendment. Because the measure affects local governance, approval must include both the majority of voters statewide and the majority of voters in East Baton Rouge Parish.
The already approved Act No. 455 establishes the St. George Community School System as a separate entity within the boundaries of the City of St. George. The act mandates the transfer of all public school lands, facilities and assets located within the city limits from the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to the new system by June 30, 2027. Additionally, the legislation outlines specific agreements for student transfers, the collection of tax revenues and the division of assets and liabilities between the two school systems.
All students living in St. George, including those in magnet programs and traditional schools, enrolled on the effective date of May 16, 2026, may choose to remain at their current school until the completion of the 5th, 8th or 12th-grade year. Students enrolled after May 16, 2026 will not be included in the grandfather clause. Students will have to reapply for a seat the next grade band if they wish to attend an EBRPSS school.
No displacement: Applicants living in St. George cannot displace EBR students on waiting lists for selective admission schools.
The home district may prioritize enrolling students who reside within that district.
EBRPSS STUDENTS LIVE WITHIN ST. GEORGE BOUNDARIES
ATTEND SCHOOLS OUTSIDE
ST. GEORGE BOUNDARIES
*NUMBERS REFLECT ATTENDANCE DATA AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 2026. THE REMAINING POPULATION OF STUDENTS ATTEND AN EBR SCHOOL FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
Students enrolled prior to May 16, 2026, may elect to remain enrolled.
Students must reapply at the completion of their respective grade band (K-5) (6-8) (9-12).
Students enrolled after May 16, 2026 may reapply.
Acceptance is not guaranteed.
Section 4.(A) Any school student in an elementary or secondary school that resides within the geographic boundaries of the St. George Community School System or the East Baton Rouge Parish School System may elect to remain enrolled in the school that the student was attending on the effective date of this Act, (May 16, 2026) […]
This FAQ is provided for informational purposes and reflects current projections and legislative language as of the date of publication. Financial estimates and operational impacts may change based on enrollment shifts, legislative revisions, and negotiated agreements. EBRPSS will continue to update this document as new information becomes available.
If you have any questions or would like to see additional questions and answers included, please email communications@ebrschools.org.
A legislatively referred constitutional amendment, LA 2025 ACT NO. 455 would authorize the creation of an independent school district for the City of St. George. The measure will appear on the statewide ballot on May 16, 2026.
The amendment must receive voter approval from both statewide and voters residing within East Baton Rouge Parish.
All registered voters in Louisiana may vote on the constitutional amendment because the measure affects local governance.
Five traditional schools:
1. Jefferson Terrace Academy
2. Shenandoah Elementary
3. Woodlawn Elementary
4. Woodlawn Middle
5. Woodlawn High
One Inactive Facility:
1. Westminster Elementary (school no longer in operation)
Two Type 1 Charter Schools that EBRPSS currently authorizes:
1. BASIS Materra
2. Great Hearts Harveston
Three parcels of land:
1. Property purchased for the construction of a new high school under the 2018 Tax Plan. Construction has not yet begun on this project.
2. 9902 Call Rd. – Former Jefferson Terrace site,
– Retirement benefits are governed by the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) and the Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System (LSERS) and would remain unchanged.
– Health insurance coverage for employees and retirees would continue. If the employee group decreases in size, the district may evaluate whether to remain self-insured or transition to the State Office of Group Benefits.
– Vesting schedules for health and life insurance are established through EBRPSS Board policy and would remain in place unless formally revised.
– Employees who voluntarily leave EBRPSS for employment elsewhere would give up their tenure, insurance and health benefits with EBRPSS.
– Individuals entering employment elsewhere will be subject to their new employer’s policies. This may include differences in tenure status and post-retirement benefits.
If an employee wishes to stay with a school that is transferred to SGCSS, they would have to resign from EBRPSS, apply for employment with SGCSS and be hired by the new district. The new district will be responsible for that employee’s job assignment.
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478 (approx. 12%)
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141
Under La. 2025, Act NO. 455 as currently written:
-Any student, including those in selective admission magnet programs, who resides within the geographic boundaries of St. George may elect to remain enrolled in the school that the student was attending on the effective date of this Act (Per Act 455 of the Louisiana 2025 Regular session, the Act will become effective if approved on the date of the statewide election to adopt the proposed amendment to Article VIII, Section 13(D)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana to create the St. George Community School System: May, 16, 2026).
– Students attending an EBRPSS school may remain through the highest grade level offered at that school (e.g., through 5th grade in a K–5 school, through 8th grade in a 6–8 school, or through graduation at a 9-12 high school).
– Students residing in St. George may still apply for available seats in EBRPSS magnet programs. However, EBRPSS may prioritize placing EBR residents who meet admission criteria in available seats before accepting students who reside in St. George.
– Students would need to reapply for magnet placement at the next grade configuration.
– Students residing in St. George would not displace students already on EBRPSS magnet waiting lists.
– Additional details regarding enrollment priorities and transportation would be determined by each district’s independent policies and procedures.
5,809
2,633
1,527
2,168
Special education funding is derived from both local taxes, MFP local taxes and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) allocations and follows the student.
As enrollment shifts, funding allocations would adjust accordingly and staffing levels would be aligned with student needs and state requirements.
Transportation services and related assets would be addressed through negotiations between EBRPSS and the proposed St. George district. EBRPSS will also address the services provided to private and parochial schools within St. George’s boundaries.
Historically, independent school districts have been responsible for managing their own transportation systems.
For St. George residents attending EBRPSS schools, the state will calculate and reimburse EBRPSS for transportation costs per student, as required by law.
The Child Nutrition Program operates on a reimbursement basis. EBRPSS would continue to provide meals to eligible students enrolled in its schools. Reimbursement funding would adjust based on enrollment.
If five fully staffed schools transfer to a new district, staffing levels within EBRPSS would need to be realigned with updated enrollment figures. Given the unknowns about how many students and staff will choose to stay with EBRPSS or attend/work at a school in SGCSS, and how much attrition EBRPSS will experience next school year, it is difficult to project the full impact on EBRPSS employment dynamics.
However, if a reduction in force is required, it would follow any applicable state laws and comply with Board policy.
Class size requirements are established by the Louisiana Department of Education and would remain consistent. Staffing allocations are determined by enrollment, class size policy, and Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements.
– An employee’s current base salary may not be reduced except as allowed under state law.
– Salary schedules may be adjusted by the EBRPSS School Board.
– Proposition 3 supplemental compensation, currently providing a 15% enhancement, is contingent on available tax collections and may be subject to adjustment if revenue declines.
Operating the schools and facilities within the proposed SGCSS footprint represents an annual financial commitment of approximately $40 million. If SGCSS forms, EBRPSS will no longer be responsible for these operational costs. These figures are based on data from the 24-25 budget.
Projected EBRPSS operation costs will reduce in the following areas:
The Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) allocates funding per student using a statewide formula.
Funding follows the student. For example, if a student residing in St. George chooses to attend an EBRPSS school, EBRPSS would receive MFP funding for that student. A 2025 simulation projected that if SGCSS forms, EBRPSS could see an increase in MFP funding of $216 per student. However, MFP adjustments would result in a total decrease of $17.6 million. This would be in addition to the $100 million decrease in property and sales taxes.
Updated simulations are being developed in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Education.
Property tax rates and assessments would not automatically change. If SGCSS is formed, property and sales tax collections within the current EBRPSS geographic boundaries are projected to decrease beginning July 1, 2027, and those collections would be received by SGCSS.
Current estimates project a 25% reduction in local tax collections, totaling roughly $100 million in district revenue. The corresponding amount would be collected by SGCSS. If an SGCSS student attends an EBRPSS school, a portion of the local school taxes collected by St. George would follow that student and be sent to EBRPSS instead.
Current projections indicate impacts to the following areas:
Impact on Operations:
Transfer of Assets to SGCSS:
These figures are projections and subject to change based on enrollment, staffing, property valuations and final legislative terms. Offsetting some of this loss would be a reduction in operating expenses for the schools transferred to SGCSS and their operations and staffing.
Under the legislation as currently written, the proposed SGCSS would only be responsible for OPEB costs for employees it hires. EBRPSS would remain responsible for the post-employment benefits of all existing retirees, totaling $361.5 million. SGCSS would not be responsible for its percentage of post-retirement benefits for these retirees, which amounts to approximately $57.8 million. The previously accrued legacy costs would remain with EBRPSS unless otherwise addressed in the final agreements.
Projects approved under the 2018 Tax Plan are currently scheduled to continue through completion, but reduced sales tax collections may affect the overall project scope. Any future tax proposition (including a potential 2027 proposal) would be contingent on the adjusted revenue base.
In the 2018 tax plan, no money can be spent within SGCSS if SGCSS is legally established.
If bond proceeds are used to improve any facilities located within the boundaries of a newly formed St. George district, state law would require reimbursement to EBRPSS for the applicable portion.
