BAKER — The Baker School System, on Thursday, shared the first part of what it calls "a factual, chronological account of what has occurred in the City of Baker School System" leading up to state education officials contacting the district.

"This series is intended to provide our community with context: the work already underway, the actions taken by the State, the district's responses, and the efforts of our employees to move Baker forward," the district said in a Facebook post.

According to Baker School System Superintendent JT Stroder, the school system was making significant changes before the state contacted them in August 2024.

Officials said that, in 2023, teacher compensation became a priority, with Baker's starting teacher salary at $41,303—second-lowest among 12 area school systems. The district said its plan raised starting teacher pay to $52,000, which placed Baker second in the region behind only Iberville Parish.

"That did not happen by spending down fund balance. It came through difficult but necessary changes: consolidating operations, reorganizing staffing and administrative responsibilities, and identifying recurring savings. One published estimate showed that combining administrative roles would save approximately $250,000 annually," Stroder said. 

The school system also partnered with LSU and the Louisiana Department of Education on an attendance-improvement pilot at Baker High School, which they say produced real results, including a chronic absenteeism rate that fell 13 percentage points—from nearly 50% of students in 2023 to 37% in 2024. School officials also reported that Baker High's overall attendance rate increased 20 percentage points to 90%

This progress, officials continued, took place while Louisiana's statewide absenteeism rate increased during the same period.

August 2023 also marked the implementation of clear cell-phone expectations, which the district says was "well before Louisiana enacted its statewide school cell-phone requirement."

On Aug. 12, 2024, the district says that Baker High School reopened at its Groom Road location—eight years after the 2016 flood following a reported $23.4 million renovation project. 

Eleven days later, on Aug. 23, the school system says the state's Recovery School District first contacted the City of Baker School System and requested a meeting to discuss challenges in some of our schools; district representatives met with the state on Aug. 29. 

According to the district, the state then requested additional information, including staffing data, per-pupil expenditures and the district's plan for Baker Heights and Baker Middle on Sept. 4. The district says it submitted its Action Plan on Sept. 19, asking for clarifying information and responses to follow-up questions.

"In October, our legal counsel and I requested a meeting with State officials to discuss the plan and the appropriate path forward. Throughout the fall, we followed up repeatedly with State officials regarding the plan's contents and whether it would be accepted," Stroder added.

Then, on Dec. 12, the Recovery School District formally acknowledged receipt of the district's strategic reconstitution plan and stated that it was under review, officials said. 

"Next week, I will continue the timeline and explain what followed," Stroder said.

Baker Heights Elementary School and Baker Middle School had previously received "F" ratings for four consecutive years, which meant the schools had the possibility of being taken over by the Recovery School District. The Baker School Board later voted to shut the schools down for the 2025-2026 school year.