St. George School Breakaway Could Cost EBR District $100 Million, Officials Say

East Baton Rouge Parish public schools could lose more than $100 million in funding and thousands of students if voters approve the creation of a new St. George school district in a statewide election on May 16, according to district projections.

The East Baton Rouge Parish school system estimates the proposed separation would remove roughly 5,800 students and about $90 million in local tax revenue from its operating budget. Because Louisiana’s school funding formula adjusts state aid based on local revenue capacity, officials say the district would also lose an estimated $17.6 million in additional state funding.

The financial impact, combined, would reshape one of the state’s largest school systems, which currently serves as a centralized funding structure redistributing tax revenue across more and less affluent communities within the parish.

EBR School Board member Carla Powell-Lewis said the potential revenue loss could disrupt ongoing district priorities.

“This could cause quite a bit of a halt in the work,” Powell-Lewis said, pointing to initiatives such as teacher salary increases and academic improvement efforts.

Supporters argue for local control

The proposed new system, which would be called St. George Community Schools, is backed by a political action committee advocating for voter approval of the constitutional amendment required to create the district. Supporters argue that separating from EBR would allow more local control and direct investment in classrooms.

In campaign messaging, supporters say the change would keep more tax dollars within the community and improve academic outcomes. St. George council member David Dellucci has urged voters to approve the measure, saying it would ensure funding is directed “where it belongs: the classroom.”

St. George Mayor Dustin Yates said the effort is not intended as opposition to the current district, but as a step toward localized governance.

“It’s an investment in local excellence,” Yates said in a statement. “While the opposition fights to maintain their grip on power, we are fighting to put books in hands and hope in classrooms.”

Funding structure at the center of debate

Louisiana school systems are generally organized by parish, pooling property tax revenue across communities. That model allows wealthier areas to help fund schools in lower-income regions.

When higher-income communities separate to form their own districts, they retain a larger share of local tax revenue, reducing the pool available to the remaining system.

EBR officials estimate that St. George’s departure would remove a significant portion of the parish’s property tax base, which makes up the majority of local school funding.

While the district would lose revenue, it would also reduce expenses. Officials project about $40 million in operational savings tied largely to staffing and the transfer of facilities, including several schools and parcels of land that would become part of the new system.

Schools, staff, and students affected

Under the proposed transition, five traditional schools, two charter schools authorized by EBR, one closed school site, and multiple land parcels would be transferred to St. George Community Schools.

Employees at affected schools would be required to either apply for positions within the new district or seek reassignment within EBR. District officials say staffing decisions remain uncertain, as it is unclear how many positions would be retained or filled.

Students currently zoned for St. George schools but attending EBR campuses would be allowed to remain in their schools through graduation. Other enrollment options, including charter and magnet schools, would still be available under existing policies.

Capital improvement plans, including a recent $40 million bond program and a 2018 tax initiative, are expected to continue regardless of the outcome. However, officials noted that if the split occurs, funds allocated to St. George-area projects would be transferred alongside the new district structure.

Election ahead

Voters across Louisiana, including those in East Baton Rouge Parish, will decide the fate of the proposed school district in the May 16 statewide election. A majority approval is required for the constitutional amendment to pass.