St. Tammany School Board Moves Closer to Classroom Ten Commandments Requirement

A proposal tied to a new Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is advancing through the St. Tammany Parish School Board, with a final decision expected soon.

The measure, discussed during a recent Finance and Administrative Committee meeting, would direct Superintendent Frank Jabbia and district leadership to begin putting the mandate into action across local schools. While the committee gave initial approval, the full board is set to take up the issue at its upcoming meeting on April 16.

The push follows a recent ruling from a federal appeals court that cleared the way for enforcement of the statewide requirement. Under Louisiana law, every public classroom must display the Ten Commandments in a clearly readable format on an 11 by 14 poster or similar display. In St. Tammany Parish alone, that affects roughly 3,000 classrooms.

During the meeting, Jabbia noted that other districts had already begun moving forward and said the parish delayed action until receiving clearer legal guidance.

One of the main sticking points wasn’t the mandate itself, but the design of the materials being offered. Posters donated by outside groups include additional imagery alongside the text, which raised concerns among several board members who questioned whether simpler versions could be used instead.

Committee chair Michelle Ruffino Gallaher and others expressed hesitation about accepting materials that include extra elements beyond the required text. Some suggested seeking local donors to provide more straightforward versions.

Despite the concerns, the committee voted to advance the resolution, with one abstention and a few members not present.

Officials emphasized that any classroom displays must be fully donated, as the district is not permitted to purchase them directly.

The issue now heads to the full board, where members are expected to make a final call and potentially decide whether to pursue alternative donated materials.

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