School Board settles on budget with $7.9M deficit

By Harlan Kirgan on Friday, August 15, 2025
  • Shaun Grantham, St. Landry Parish School Board chief financial officer, explains budget details during a Committee of the Whole meeting in Opelousas on Thursday. The committee approved the budget to move to the full Board meeting on Sept. 4. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
    Shaun Grantham, St. Landry Parish School Board chief financial officer, explains budget details during a Committee of the Whole meeting in Opelousas on Thursday. The committee approved the budget to move to the full Board meeting on Sept. 4. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
    St. Landry Parish School Board members are sending a 2025-2026 budget with a $7.9 million deficit forward to its Sept 4 regular meeting for approval. “Am I worried? No. Am I concerned? I would say yes,” said Superintendent Milton Batiste III at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Thursday in Opelousas. The budget projects an erosion in the district’s finances with expenses greater than...

    Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription.