SHPSD Committee and Board Meeting (8/14/25)

001[Music] Would you stand for this? >> Okay. Personnel committee will come to order. Roll call. Present >> Dr. Kevin Joseph >> here Watson >> here Jackson. >> Okay. Uh first item is to receive personnel updates and workforce dashboard. Miss Miranda Watson. get started with report. As you can see, the report is pretty limited. We've been pretty busy this past month trying to make sure we got all position filled as much as possible with 12 new hires. Unfortunately, a couple of our new hires gone. Um yeah, you would know that one of the things that area as well that two of them in the in the reservation test uh got started and then before school started every time. So together we had nine resations and also look at the transfers we had to move around things

002for learners. So you see those positions there that have been um employed that transfer you have any questions about that so far. And then the second page you'll see the position that we're finally running for. Um I will note that we have reached out to proximity learning to try to provide some support with ELA. I know that uh Miss Butler is hiring and she has a one person um a possibility that um we had got confirmation on her profession and so I think I guess that as a new hire at this time but she is currently for ELA. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. If you look at the third page, you'll see the current resources highlight. Some of the things that we've been working on is you know, of course, the staffing vacant positions

003with our biggest focus on our staffing on staffing teacher vacancies. And as you can see from the personnel report that we've been pretty busy and it's been pretty active. And then due to the nationwide teacher charges we had to hire some quality teachers while they're not certified but we also have made it clear to our new hires who aren't certified that they must enroll in our assert program that they must take it seriously to get their certifications. So we did make that known upon them being hired. And we are also excited to announce that we have a new resident a new student teacher that's going to be at the So, we're excited about that. We did meet with and she's from Grand Canyon University. She's from our area. Um, we did meet with her supervisor,

004um, Dr. Deicki and um, she was excited for us. She's from a rural area herself and, uh, she just she was very impressed. So, we reached out to her, set up as to what is expected on both sides. And so, we're looking forward to her getting started uh, if not the end of this week, next week for sure. And finally, we also uh start uh distributed the modules for the school training. So that's not the happy time, but it's the best information for our employees. So they uh they have received those. They've started doing their safe trainings for the 25 26 school year. On the last page, you'll see some statistics for our vacancy. At the college and career academy, we increased by 3%. Uh we have a total of six vacancies at the time

005to only five vacancies for teachers and the percentage for our teacher vacancies right now is 82% and that increased from last month by 12%. Shas uh we have one vacancy overall and that increased by 6%. Uh and then for teacher vacancy we have one that same one vacancy is that 95% staff for teachers and that increased by 1% last month. ELC we had two vacancies which is our teaching assistant positions from the transfers and so that uh number remained the same at 95%. And then for our teacher wings, we have 100% staff at the LS safe for teachers and which increased by 6% from last month. Overall, our uh total for the school space is 92% staff, which is a 4% increase. And then for our teachers, we are 9% staff, which is a 8%

006increase from last month. You have any questions about >> Oh, Miss Watson, I was at the police jury meeting Tuesday night and someone gave me a sheet of paper with two names on it and said there were two qualified uh teachers with uh she didn't say certified. She said degree >> uh that applied at this school and >> they were not um considered. >> I have the names. I'll give you the paper with the name on the paper and gave it to me. Thank you. >> Any more questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um that concludes the personnel committee. Budget and finance will come to order. Roll call. >> Mela here. >> Miss Castle >> here. on that. >> Okay. Receive and consider for approval employee longevity and retention stipens. >> Yes. Just want to.

007All right. So, we would like to uh provide a longevity and retention stipen to all our employees um with payment amounts determined by years of service in the district. This initiative is funded entirely through the 2024 budget surplus, making it a nonreoccurring expenditure that does not impact the district's ongoing operating budget. So before I get into it, I want to uh make the point and it's important to note the difference between a one-time and a reoccurring expense. So a one-time expense occurs only in the current budget year and does not commit the district to ongoing payments in future years. These are typically funded from non-permanmanent revenue sources sources such as uh surplus and a reoccurring expense continues annually such as salaries, benefits or utility costs and must be supported by stable long-term revenue. So the

008funds that will be used for this longevity and retention stipen is from the surplus and it is a one-time expense. So, because this stipen is funded by surplus funds, it will not be issued in future years unless similar surplus resources are available and approved by the board. The purpose of the longevity and retention stipen is to recognize and reward the dedication, loyalty, and long-term commitment of all St. Helena Parish School District employees and providing a one-time financial incentive based on years of it service. The district seeks to honor employees contributions to learner success, encourage continued retention of experienced staff, and demonstrate appreciation for their role in strengthening the educational mission of the district. So committee, if you look at the calculation table that is before you, we have uh the years, the first column is

009the years employed. So we have a category for new hires. We have 0 to three, four to six, 7 to 9 years, 10 to 12, 13, 15. That's based on what is written in the salary schedule. Okay. So we have a total of 22 new hires and each of them will receive $1,000. Anyone uh hired between 0 to three years uh will and that's 63 total employees, they will receive $1,500. Any employee um employed between 4 to 6 years, that's 22 of those employees, they will receive 2,000. Anyone hired between 7 and 9 years, there are 13 of those employees, they will receive 3,000. We have 12 employees that have been with us for 10 to 12 years. They will receive 4,000. We have seven employees hired uh between 13 and 15 years. They will

010receive 5,000. We have two employees hired between 16 and 18 years. They will receive 6,000. We do not have any employees hired uh with 19 and 21 years. But we do have five employees that have 22 uh to 24 plus years of experience. They will receive uh years of experience in St. Helena. They will receive 7,000. So the total amount of employees is 146 and the total amount for this distribution is $329,500. Our total surplus for the 2024 uh fiscal year was $596,573. So we still have a balance of the surplus of $267,73. $267,73. Do you have any questions at all about this calculation table or any other uh requests regarding this? >> Okay, finish. >> Okay. Any other any questions? No questions. If not, any questions? Um, I do want to add an item

011since we have so many people that come into the parish and they often seem to want to get in get whatever we have and then leave. So, I'm asking that Dr. Joseph put in writing somewhere 0 to three. If they leave within that year span, they owe us $500 and that should be withheld from their last check. So that new hires to at zero and three zero to three if they leave with uh with at any point at the end of the year they going to have $500 with jail out of that last check because they usually you know everybody that else that I think they should be Okay. Um, for that's a lot for me. So, show some appreciation for us. And I mean, I I think that's being fair to all zero to

012three years. So, they usually come get the experience and they want to bail out on us. So, board members, y'all agree? This three? >> I agree. Which one? Where >> on the what? Budget. >> So, I'm asking committee for approval. >> Okay. Um, can I get a motion on the um on the stipens? >> I so move. >> I have a motion by Miss Cheney. >> Second. Second by Miss Lolita Porter. >> Any more questions? We'll take a vote. >> Bell. >> Yes. >> Miss Cheney. >> Yes. >> Lolita Porter. >> Yes. 30 motion here. Refer to >> All right. Thank you. Um we're going to add that. Go ahead and add item. >> Five. Need to add item 4 A. That's 4 A. >> What is food service? Food service stipen. >> Uh, I

013need a motion to add uh item 4A to the budget finance committee for food service stipen. >> I so move that we add item 4 a food service site. >> Have a motion. >> I have a second. >> Miss Virginia Bell. >> Yes. >> Miss Cheney. >> Yes. Mita Porter. >> Yes. >> Three. Motion carries. No, we got to vote. >> All right. Item uh four, receive and consider for approval 2025 2026 transportation plan. So committee, as you all are aware, we have to make some adjustments to how we operate our buses in the district. And so what I have before you and I'm now going to ask uh Mr. Josh McGee to come in and provide some some sort on that. Um so as you recall there was an incident and I shared with

014this with you all before in the previous meeting. There was an incident in northern part of the state and um it was dealing with third party bus drivers and insurance uh coverage and how was that uh particular district uh going to support having you know a third party driver in a you know situation that would require uh insurance to be uh evoked. So that sent up a red flag with LMA. And so as a result, they looked at all of the policies that they have with the districts across the state and have decided that we they will no longer or they cannot um cover third party drivers. So we needed to go in and make some adjustments to our uh transportation services. So if you look at the plan and did I say that and

015if I say anything off please? That's correct. All right. So what we had to do uh was look at various options and you all have the options now in front of you and you will have to vote on which option you would prefer and this is all based on having to uh eliminate a third party drivers. So that means that the district would either have to uh subsidize insurance for the contracted drivers or we take in all of the drivers, you know, under the district umbrella and then these buses. Okay. So if you look at the sheet in front of you, I'm just going to explain what it is. This is our transportation budget. This comes directly from our uh 2025 2026 budget for transportation. So the first column lists all of our expenses. Okay.

016The things that are highlighted in yellow are the items that will change as a result of you know the issues with insurance. The second column is our actual fiscal year uh expenses for that particular year. And our expenses for transportation total um 1 million uh a little over a million dollars. The next four columns will be the options that you will have to select from the first the the third column which is Ross's Ross's lease. So, we're going if we decide to lease buses from Rosses, we would need um a total of 11 buses, 10 regular buses and one lift bus. Okay? And then that would include hiring 23 a total of 23 bus drivers. Okay? So, that first row as you see is in yellow. That's the salary that will change from $255,000 to

017$283,000. So that cost will go up. The next row that's yellow, that's the bus rental cost. For the 2024 actual, it was $501,822 to lease buses. The total of 11 buses from Ross will cost $273,800. Okay. The next thing that would change is gasoline and diesel for those 11 police lease buses. Notice that there were no um expenses for us for the actual fiscal year 2024. So that will be a new expense of totaling $84,000. The next is fleet insurance. That's physical damage. And understand these are not uh concrete numbers. They will change. Okay. But so this is a rough estimate. But the actual cost for our fleet insurance for fiscal year 2024 was 39,501. That cost will increase to 55 around $55,000. The next is liability and Mr. McGee will address the liabil liability

018issue um in a moment. So we do not have a to a cost for liability at this time. Workman's compensation also goes up from 15,601 to 35,822. Medicare also goes up from $4,823 to $12,000. And then lasers, that's the retirement system for bus drivers, goes from 87,641 to $140,000. So overall within that budget for to lease buses from Ross would be 1 million $44,60. Any questions about that? >> Without the liability, >> right? I do not have liability. >> Still have to add liability. We can shift if you want to finish. Okay. Rest of the numbers and we'll talk about everything at one point. >> All right. The next company, Jack Rabbit. If we lease from them, the salary remains the same with 283 cuz it's still 23 employees. The total cost from to lease

019their buses would be $187,000. So that is the cost for the 10 regular excuse me and one lift bus. Their cost is the same for both. The gasoline diesel cost is the same and everything else with um the fleet insurance uh works comp and all of that is also the same. So currently the cost for everything if we go with Jack Rabbit minus liability is 957,260. The next or the last two columns is Kent lease. Okay. Kent Mitchell. They gave us a quote for used buses and also new buses. So for the used buses, the total cost to rent or lease their buses is for used is $259,800. To rent their new buses is $276,000 with everything else remaining the same. So if you notice Ross's and Kent, they are already without the cost for

020liability is already pushing close to our actual fiscal year expenses for 2024. So that means that the cost moving forward would be more than what was the actual for fiscal year 2024. So we will have to pay more questions. We we're leasing these buses but we're picking up every all the expenses associated with them. We have to Yes. While we may get see a cost savings with leasing the buses, there is an increase when we have to take on the salaries of the employees. Now, those employees that are coming in will be part-time. So, there's no need to offer insurance, you know, to those employees. But there is all of the other expenses, workman's compensation, Medicare, and lasers. Okay, I'm going backtrack a little bit, cover, make sure we're all on the same page. The

021claim that was mentioned earlier was the largest payout in Walmart's history and it is a significant claim to get their attention. It's an immunity issue with the subcontractor. School districts have an immunity uh protection under state. The subcontractors has ruled they do not extend to them. That's where we got normally got caught in the wash on this. So that's why they're back in reviewing all their coverage forms. This presentation I have tonight, the first page is a snapshot of last year's proposal that I brought here. Listen, I want I want to show you where you were and what our options are. So last year with Lara, our liability I'm rounding up here. We were we were right at $45,000 for all the liability covered. We had 35 buses. That's about $1,300 a bus, which is

022dirt cheap in these town. Subcontractors, if they had to go out and get quotes in their own buses, they're looking between 25 and $30,000 a year. So, if we had to go out to the market other than LMA, we're looking at those same prices of 25 to 30,000 just for liability. So it's happy as much as we can. On the bottom half page, ARMA gave us a blanket limit on automobile physical damage, a $400,000 limit. We had $670,000 of the values on all of our own district owned vehicles. That includes the trucks and the trailers, the utility trailers, everything. But we brought an alternative quote last year for physical damage on all the units. And it was significant more. It was uh 1,500 versus 18,000. The $400,000 limited on all that all the money damage

023at one time. Page Let's go to page three. This is a quote for physical damage coverage on the police or on the buses. Okay. This is also including the district- owned buses. We're looking at putting all the coverages on one policy. I'm going to give you another option after this. So, our values and we one one of the leasing companies was able to give us a schedule of buses they were going to lease to us so we can get the values up and they range anywhere between $75,000 to $130,000 per bus. So, our values are going to go from $400,000 to 1.7 million. So, we're increasing by 1.3 for 19 total buses. The utility trailers are not getting coverage because the deductible they're offering us is well below the value of the utility trailers. We're

024looking at $58,000 for coverage on physical damage only on all the lease buses and the 11 lease buses and the own units for the school district. And there's some terms and condition there. This is going to change depending on which option you guys go cuz each company is going to have different values of buses, but I wanted to give you an idea. The buses are coming in about $3. Oh, and it's also a $10,000 copy collision deductible. That's something to consider. Now, I did have a talk with Walmart and they're willing to work with us on this with that $200,000 limit we have. I said, "We will be able to keep the district owned vehicles under the fiscal damage protection of Oblama and just move the lease buses to the to the other carrier, split

025the coverages out. But we know lease buses go in this carrier, own vehicles go with this carrier. If we do that, that lowers our our insured value to 1 point well 1 million 38,000 combined with the Lama value premium and then this premium worth 44,000. So that's a significant premium savings by splitting it into two carriers and we're getting better deductible terms and conditions for the reason why I'm saying this sounds like a no-brainer option. But the reason why we have to make this consideration is because any we have to know the value of the buses. So this is going to come back and change and this $5,800 for harmless physical damage. I'm basing that off current policy. I don't know what the renewal. We have to get this situated so they can release the

026renewal book to me so I can come back next month and we can talk about the October 1st renewal. But this is a step to get to that point. We have to take care of the buses schedule so they know how much the breaks, but we're not going to beat Mars rate for liability anywhere else. >> Okay. I know I just threw a lot at you. >> Yes, you did. So, did you say that the objective was to try to stay as close to the uh budget, the current budget for transportation as we possibly could? And I think that uh we have met that goal, but it just depends on the options that you select tonight. And you have to make a selection tonight because there is a time limit on uh the insurance coverage

027that we currently have. It will expire. Well, if we go at and looking at pure cost, you know, we obviously um go with the um drag revenue lease because that's that is the most savings. I mean that's going to put us under the current um our current bud or or the past budget 2024 if we just looking at cost but is there anything else that needs to be considered besides cost? >> I mean um besides the buses Yeah. Yeah. No, besides um what the total cost, is there anything else as far as these companies? You know, do we do we know anything uh uh I mean the bus the condition of the buses or anything that needs to be considered? Because obviously you would look at this and say, "Okay, we're going to go with

028the one that's 957 because all the others are a million40, a million over a million dollars." No, ma'am. Um, okay. >> All of the numbers are actually uh rough estimates, right? >> We don't know. Right. So, we just So, we're looking at the rough estimates and from the rough estimates, we have one that's a much lower than the others. Um, >> who's our committee? >> M Miss Cheney. Uh, and Miss Porter. >> What are y'all thinking? I'm suggesting that we use Jack Rabbit lease >> based on the just the numbers alone. Huh? >> The numbers the numbers >> and we wait on that um option. I'm looking at the option of the one with the four. >> Okay. >> Option number two. In order for us to finalize that quote, we would have to give

029Jack to give us a list of buses and values that we're have to provide to us. So that's going to change, right? And the bus values are lower obviously. Okay. >> So it's not >> it's going to be better. >> Yeah. And and and your bus schedule is going to shrink too because last year I think we had 35 units on there and you don't need that many, >> right? >> It's that's a bad draw for longer being so cheap. It's not going to drop as much as you're shrinking from schedule. But if it was a $20,000 per year, you will see some different savings. But we are going to see some savings even if they have a rate increase because our schedule is shrinking >> and and that's good considering what we were under.

030I mean what we were worried about and stressing over >> even if the floor I always kind of pencil it 20%. >> When in my head even if they come in at 20% we're still less than $2,000. >> You can't you can't get a a personal automobile insurance. >> Yeah. I just looked at my house insurance. I mean, everybody, all the insurancees are just it's ridiculous what they what they going up. So, uh, >> I need a motion on this item. >> So, move. >> Okay. Motion by Miss Cheney. what we would need for whichever option you go. We would just need a copy of the contract showing what the school district's responsible for so we can provide extra carriers and that's all and we didn't negotiate anything in that number. >> All right. So

031Dr. Dr. Jones will be responsible for getting it to you. Um, I make I move that we look at option with Jack River Lee with option number two. >> Okay, that's my motion. >> Okay, I have a motion for Jack River option two. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> I have a second. No other questions. We'll take a vote. >> Yes. Motion car. >> Okay. uh item 4 a food service diaper. Miss Tracy Wbeck is going to present it. I would like to ask the board to consider approving a stip for five of our uh food service workers. Let me justify some of you may or may not be aware of within a twoe period before school started I lost four employees which was a manager and three employees due to some sickness.

032Um so I had to u make some move bold move. So if you look at the project that I handed out um and I got it broken down where just that one manager when that manager with the staffing was making that was over $100,000. I hired two new people which uh was 43,000 and the difference was 57,156. This will not mess with my bottom line at all. This is money that I already had. And what I'm trying to do is one manager will be managing two schools. And I feel that that manager should be rewarded because he's doing the job of two people, two people. So I'm asking for that particular manager is in front of a $5,000 stip. And this is just for this year, you know, until we can get things going. If

033we can't get it, we'll come back to the drawing board next year. Okay. Um I'm asking for um Miss Jasmine Jobs where she will be running my warehouse and another school. I'm asking a $3,000 stipen for her. for each one of the schools. I'm looking for a leader to assist that manager because that manager can't do everything by yourself. And I'm asking for these three leaders, $2,000, which come up to $14,000. If you take that 14,000 out of the 57,000 that I have left over, even if I need to hire two additional people, I still have the money because the beginning salary of um uh is still under $22,000 for management. So, I believe these people work hard. you know, it's a lot, you know, and I think people should be awarded for their actions.

034So, I'm asking y'all if y'all would please consider these um food service. >> Okay. So, the food service stipen was actually an action item. So, we're going to you're going to need approval on that. Yes. So, this this went on as an action item. So, we need a a motion to approve the proof service stipen. >> Okay. Let me just say this to clear the air. This is a one-time stip. This is nothing reoccurring. We do not have the funds for reoccurring salaries. Right. Okay. So, this is a stipen that she's asking for. Right. Okay. So, I so move. Got a motion by Miss Painter. >> I I need to make another clarifying point. Miss Wulmarmac is not h instead of hiring new people to fill those spots for people who quit. She's giving more

035responsibility to the staff she currently has. >> Right. And in doing so, giving them the stipen which will you know um and we budget and we know a lot of our employees work extra hard and this is a one time thing for >> to just show some appreciation. >> That's right. >> I I I I solely believe on rewarding people when we can. And if that's the case, let's do what's right. >> Especially if they take on additional >> additional responsibilities, never complain and getting the job done. I'm definitely forward. So I so move again. >> All right. Got a motion by Miss Cheney. >> Second by Miss Porter. No other questions. We take a vote. >> Yes. Yes. >> That concludes the budget and finance. The education commission come to order call Miss Virginia

036>> presu [Music] John Paul >> present >> Miss Singleton >> presentation first item is to receive the consent for approval between next 11 education LLC and family school board to provide career and industry based courses for high school student. >> Yes, just working with this this particular contract. >> All right, just step to the podium just in case I need some backup. So, Next Level Education Services will provide uh career and tech uh coursework for our high school learners and we're excited about this opportunity for them. So, uh they're they are an educational institution that provides career focused certification programs to prepare uh individuals for immediate employment in high demand industries. Um the program includes training in labbotomy technician nursing assistant, EKG technician, medical assistant, and patient care technician. Um, over the past 2 years,

037this company has graduated and certified over 200 participants, more than 85, securing immediate employment in their respective fields. So, by collaborating with this company, our high school aims to expand opportunities for seniors to gain hands-on industrybased training. that supports their career goals and aligns with regional workforce needs. And so what they will receive is uh the bundle is EKG and phabbotomy for one semester and then a medical medical assistant for one semester. So included in the tuition is CPR certification, a uniform and campus-based learning. So the total price for uh we have to have a minimum of 10 kids in the program and each kid the total cost per learner is $3,270 which total is $30,270 and all of this will be paid with CTE and grant funds and it'll be no impact to our

038general fund. Would y'all like to add anything? >> Uh the minimum number is 10. We have 20 learners who have made a great and I want to say according to our college career coach this is the um highest enrollment um with this company um ever and just FYI um of the public based on school performance scores we know that industry based certification is of importance And if it's a bundle deal for the bundle, they get so many points >> to help improve the school performance score. >> So I think that's a wonderful thing if we can get that. Being that we're short staffed at the high school, we don't have that many employee. It would definitely be beneficial for the kids. And if they getting all of that in one bundle, we'll definitely get some

039points toward the SPS score. I'm sorry. >> And next level is going to be on campus, you said. >> Yes, ma'am. Classroom and the teacher. >> Oh, wonderful. Good. Um motion motion by Virginia second by Miss Chain. >> Yes. >> Miss Virginia Bell. >> Yes. >> Miss Linda Chainy. >> Yes. >> 30 motion to refer to the board of the uh second item. uh is to receive consider for approval professional service agreement between Salem school board and XP synergy to provide exceptional student services media and creative art and instruction. Yes. So, as you all should know, we have we already have an agreement with this uh organization uh through opportunity now where all of our instructional learners uh receive uh lots of uh workforce related uh services, right? They get that get those experiences. What

040we want to do is expand it to project create where we have a multimedia course where the kids will receive training in that particular industry or in that particular field. They will receive internship hours and receive pay for doing that particular work. Um there are a lot of other benefits in in this um partnership. They will provide all of the equipment, the professional development and a siphon for one of the teachers who are currently staffed. Uh Adobe based curriculum for certification. They get the workbased projects. Like I said, they get the paid internship which is $11 per hour. They get 240 hours of internship experience. And then of course they do provide the supports that we need throughout the year to make sure that the program is running properly. Would you like to share anything

041miss? >> Yes. Good evening. Um I would like to expand on the key points that Dr. Joseph has already highlighted. Um definitely this opportunity would align provide our learners with an opportunity to earn a credit. Um most importantly in connecting it with our profile, our vision and profile of a graduate. I want to expand on the point that it's geared to the future focused section of the profile of the graduate preparing our learners to thrive in modern creative industries. So essentially um this opportunity it's it's a great opportunity for our learners um expanding on the stream of grants mentioned by Mr. Greg Lewis. It's an opportunity that will benefit our kiddos, our learners, and um allow them to be future focused and having that opportunity to thrive. Any questions? The total cost for this is

042$28,000, >> but we will not once again general fund will not be touched. will be paid through a grant. But we get the money basically back through the equipment that will be purchased, the internship hours and the stipen that will be paid to our learners in the program. And this is in particular for our exceptional uh learners. A lot of times we focus on just our regular ed kids, right? They are the ones that we look to to get the CT certifications and all of those things. This is for this program is for our exceptional learners. So they get access and opportunity to the for the same thing. So we would love if you all would approve this partnership or extend the partnership and if I can add this opportunity is available twice for our

043learners in that population. And then if you an opportunity even just expanding on that um the project created opportunity for our learners this this past summer I had the opportunity to witness the excitement that they um exhibited um having the opportunity to just be creative. We live in a digital world so everything the opportunity to become content creators and communicating with our kiddos they they have a desire. We are in we live in an innovative world. We're global. Everything connects. So, this is an opportunity for our that population, our population of exceptional learners to expand on skill sets that they do pretty much every day essentially. So, I also move >> a second move by your order. >> Yes. Virginia Bell. >> Yes. >> Main. Yes. Motion car referred to the school board. The next

044item is receive and consider for approval contract between Sale board and for LC. Yeah. So we already have a uh contract with Lawrence Consulting. However, this contract for this school year uh in the Europe um we are combining so so last year we had a contract with Lawrence Consulting to do ELA and then we had a contract with another organization to do social studies but this year we would like to combine ELA and social studies together under um Lawrence Consulting. This will increase the amount of work that this individual will do. It also will increase based on our oxidation cycles that we'll talk about, we've talked about in the past and we'll talk a little bit more um this uh in this meeting, but the workload will double. So, um we're asking for um an

045increase in this particular contract. >> Good evening, board. With Louisiana's new literacy initiative, they set very high expectations with the devil's literacy screener, the ELA and social studies week 2025 assessments. It requires learners to read on grade level complex text. I would like this contract approved because this additional support that we can give to teachers I would increase the frequency of observations in those classrooms. It would increase the frequency of coaching opportunities, feedback and support which in turn we would hope to improve instruction which would yield those improved learner outcomes and literacy. And I also want to add with him working with the social studies, the social studies and the e leap assessments are now aligned. That means that they have increased the complex text that they are reading in social studies as well. So

046not not to only give that support to ELA teachers but being able to give it to the social studies teachers as well. So the total cost for this contract will be 64,000 but this two is paid through a grant not general fund. I feel move second by training and second by miss. Yes. >> Yes. Chinese. >> Yes. >> 30 motion car refer to the full board of service. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next item. Discuss a promotion policy regarding leap 2025 assessment to be added to the people progression plan. Yes. So committee I this is just discussion at this time. Uh there are two things that we want to do this year that we must do this year. We must increase parental involvement. the community must come together to support the school system. We

047cannot do it alone. We have done everything that we could possibly do to uh work with our kids and give them what they need to be successful. As you hear tonight, you know, we're trying to provide even more access and opportunities for our learners. But at the end of the day, none of this will work the way we want unless we have parental support. Unless we have the community come together and support the school system. A thriving school system has a community that supports it. We are not thriving the way we should be. Our kids are not thriving the way they should be. So the uh we definitely need parental support. The next thing we need to do is improve our test scores. We have been over all these years, even with the changes in

048accountability, and you all know I've, you know, kind of beat the dead horse with that. It is critical that our learners pass the LEA test. That's all we have left to do. We have awesome facilities. We have good things in place. We're we're a district accredited school system through Cogna. We have all of the right things in place. The two pieces that are missing and they are big pieces, parental involvement, community involvement, and incre improved test scores. So there's got to be some type of accountability on our kids, on our parents to get them to understand the importance of kids taking the test seriously. Third through 11th grade or 12th grade, um if they have to retake the test, all those tests are on a computer and a lot of times the kids will just

049click click click through, never complete the constructed response. We lose a lot of points with that, right? They're just clicking through and they're done. They're not taking the test seriously. And this is above, you know, high teacher turnover and vacancies. When there is a teacher in the classroom, kids are not taking this test seriously. So, we need to put something in place that will hold them accountable and make them understand the importance. Now, we did a test run with the I Ready this summer, right? And I want to thank you all for reaching out to your constituents to get them to get their kids to finish 30 hours of I Ready remediation. And that was over the summer months, June and July. We asked for 30 hours of remediation because those kids who needed the

050remediation failed their last benchmark assessment. The majority of the kids who failed that last benchmark assessment also failed that LEAP exam. So they need more remediation. They need the additional support. The teachers in the classroom are doing all what they can to get the kids to the mastery level. Right? There are five achievement levels for this test. Unsatisfactory, approaching basic, basic, mastery, and advanced. The state only recognizes mastery and advanced. The majority of our kids are at the approaching basic unsatisfactory levels. We have some in basic. It's no more basic or above. That was gone a long time ago. It is now mastery or advanced. And then there is a new accountability system that has been implemented this year where there's more focus on growth, more focus on how well kids are pass that test.

051It's more focus on the test. It's more focused on postsecary. That's why we're pushing internships like we did started last year. There's got to be some type of accountability in place to get these kids and to get our parents to understand the importance of passing the test. My thought is that I don't know if you remember um several years ago you could not move to the next grade if you didn't pass in fourth and eighth grade, you were held back. I would like to see something similar to that in our place in our pupil progression plan. And it's no longer just fourth and eighth grade, it's every grade. So, I would recommend third through 11th grade, you cannot move on unless you pass that test. And if you fail, you have to go or have

052some type of remediation during the summer. Something has got to give with this. Something has got to break. Our kids are smart and I will put my kids against any other kids across this state, across this nation. It's just that they don't take the test seriously. And we need for our letter grade to reflect the stuff that our teachers do in the classroom and the things that our kids are capable of doing and the things that they do in the classroom every day. So something's h has to happen. So I'm asking you all for your thoughts and ideas about it. But you know what I would like to see is that if you fail a test, you don't move on to the next grade. I have a question about that because um some kids are

053just not test takers and they may cuz I for my daughter have experience with her honoral student but she could not pass she didn't pass the test and that did that took a lot out of her. So what are we doing for kids who who are honoral student? They just failed the test. Mean, are we going to hold them back? Yes. Because the State Department does not recognize that. The State Department does not recognize that, hey, you don't have internet service or hey, you can't pass a test or hey, you have all of the all of the um reasons why kids can't progress or why this district can't progress. All of those reasons they're No. Okay. Make it happen. They're just in the stance of make it happen. So, we have to make it happen.

054We can't go I can't go to Baton Rouge and tell them that. They're going to say, "You need to figure out what needs to happen to get that kid to pass the test." They're not going to say, "Okay, we're going to change up the accountability system just for kids who can't pass the test." I'm not a good test taker either, but that doesn't mean that the expectation and the standards are going to drop just because I can't. >> This is not for kids that would have like a special ed um type of uh >> well, exceptional services kids, they have to take a test to what's uh connect. They have to take reconnect, >> but it's based on their their skill. I mean, >> yes, it is. >> But they >> they're not taking the

055same. >> Well, they have to test, but they're not testing like the regular regular counter toward the SPS. >> Some of them are taking the test, >> right? Connect. >> There have been years where our Leap Connect kids did far better than our regular kids >> on on the on the test designed for them their test. >> And anybody in the audience if you have some uh thoughts or like to share your ideas please come forward. But something we have got to do something and it has to happen this year. Well, it's definitely something that we have to think about. So, >> can we put some thought into this one and come back? >> Yeah. >> Next month would >> Yeah. Yeah. We want to get together. >> So, can I can I can I

056move that we table this to next month bringing ideas back? >> It was just discussion anyway though, right? We didn't have to Yeah. Okay, if there's no more questions or comments, this contin [Music] >> present. >> Mr. George Hughes >> Dr. Joseph >> here. >> Item three, receiving consider for approval between St. Helena Par School Board and Southeast Community Health System to provide a school phase health center at each school campus. >> Yes, I thought they were doing it. >> Well, we have to renew it every year. >> So, this is just a renewal for to have the partnership with Southeast Community Health System. Do they have mental health specialists on on campus? >> Yes. >> For each each one of those? Oh, somewhere. Okay. >> I'm I move that uh we remove this. >>

057Have a motion by M. Bale. Second by Mr. B. >> Mr. Porter. >> Yes. >> Mine. >> Yes. >> Mr. George. >> Yes. >> 30 motion car. Item four, receive and consider for approval between St. Helena Parish School Board and Southeast Community Health Systems provided licensed professionals counselor behavior health coordinator to assist with coordination of service to learners provided by NCS schoolbased site employees. Yes. uh committee. This is also a renewal that you know is brought before you every um year and this is the partnership where we help uh provide I believe just a quarter of the salary for that particular uh position licensed professional counselor. >> We have one at each school or just one? >> It's just one and we pay 15,000 of a year. >> That's our portion. >> Yes. I >>

058move motioned by Mail by Mus. >> Yes. >> Mr. [Music] No other. >> All right. Moving right along. Before we get started, principles, teachers, and staff, dear heavenly father, we give you all the glory, honor, and praise in all things. Lord, we know that you know all things about us. Lord, we know that you're the creator and make of all things. And we know that you know all things from the beginning to the end. We know that it's you that makes all things possible. Father, we ask for forgiveness of all of our sin. Lord, whether it be omission or commission. Bless us all and bless this day of new beginnings. Smile upon this staff and student body and surround us Lord with soft manner of your love. Cover us with your precious blood. Teach this

059community to follow in your footstep and to live life in the way of love, faith, hope, and charity. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The meeting room will come to order. We are now holding a meeting of the St. Lash school board. Roll call. >> Mr. George Porter >> preser >> present. >> Mr. Alen Travis >> present. >> Item B, approve minutes and agenda, July 10th committee meeting, July 10th regular board meeting, and the current agenda. You guys want to approve these collectively? >> I move we approve them collectively. >> Second. Motion by Mr. Travis, second by Mr. Hughes that we approve all meetings and agenda collectively. Any

060questions? No questions shall pass by general consent. Item C, superintendent report. Good evening, Lord. Good evening, uh, everyone in the audience. Uh, and welcome. Um, just have a couple of things. Can you Miss Leatra? We have some presentations we just like to share. Um I would like to share with you all the number of learners that we now have in the district this school year. So if you look at the chart you see the number of kids that we have per grade level and uh based on each school. So at the early learning center we have a total of 249 kids. At the arts and technology academy we have a total of 312 kids. And at the college and career academy, we have a total of 450 kids. That's a total of 1,11 total learners

061in our district. Um, if you go to the next slide, I'd like to share with you the trend, our enrollment trend since 2020, and that's since co just like all other districts, we've seen a reduction in our total enrollment. And you see those numbers there. So in 2024 we had a total of 1,037. That's a reduction of 25. But that is because we lost a class um a prek class. So that's why the majority of that is because of of a prek class that we lost. And I believe that started in 2023 >> 2023 we lost instead of three classes we're now down to two. So that's why those numbers are the way they are. And so you see it's a declining trend from 2020 um in our enrollment. And as I stated that is

062just the trend across the board. Um a couple other things I want to share before I let the directors come up. We did have our conflict resolution program and today was day two of that program of the training that all of our learners received. And so that's the picture of all of the kids who are now skilled conflict resolution um kids. And so we're excited about that. And actually, Miss Singleton shared that they put their skills into practice today when they went back to school. And so what it is is designed to help all of our kids who have issues. you know, and they like to call it beef or, you know, some issue going on between uh groups of people or individuals. Uh these kids now have the skills to help solve those issues

063in a positive way. So, we're very excited about this. This is one of the things that we're doing internally to help change the climate and culture of our high school. So, they graduated today. So, please let's give them a round of applause. All right. Next, just some highlights that I'd like to share with you all. As you know, our theme, uh, we're doubling down on our theme of systems, structures, processes, and outcomes. Um, the first thing is our virtual academy. All of our transcripts were mailed off today. We had a total of about 230 participants in our uh, virtual academy. I think this is one of the highest years that we've had and the earnings that we uh collected from that was over $25,000. So, we are, you know, bringing in revenue as a result

064of this virtual academy. Uh communication platforms. I just want to remind the community about our bus app. We ask that they sign up for the bus app. It's like a Uber technology where you'll know where your child is, you know, at all times on the bus. so you'll know what time the bus is coming to pick your child up and what time your child is going to get dropped off in the evening. Um this is one um program board members that I would like to at the end of this year take a look at and see if there's a good return on our investment because this is a really good app. But if it's only as good as you know our the participation. So, if our parents aren't utilizing this app, then, you know, we'll

065have to come back and look and see if it's a really good return on our investment. We also have our district app and all of our social media platforms. So, if you want to know what's going on in the schools, just, you know, download that app, look on our social media platforms. Um, and we also have flyost um videos. Another thing I'd like to share is our blueprint to excellence, our strategic plan. Uh we do have our role plays that are now connected to every purchase that we make. So anytime anybody wants to make a purchase, I don't care if it's a a pack of pins, it all has to be connected to a goal play or an action item within that strategic plan. So everything that we do has got to be aligned to

066or with our strategic plan. So that has been implemented and run and fine. Um we also have a digital tracker for our plan to make sure that we are on track or on pace to um you know achieving all of the goals or the goal plays that we have listed in that plan. Then we also have our maintenance and facilities plan that also has a digital tracker to make sure that all of our facilities are, you know, up to par and that all of the things that we're doing um we're making sure that it's a positive environment, a clean positive environment for all of our learners. We also are going to start once again our superintendent advisory council and these are the members I'd like to share with you all. We have Elise Hitchens who

067will represent seventh grade. Tristan uh Burton who will represent eighth grade. Uh Kirsten Tillery who will represent ninth grade. Tasia >> Lewis who will represent 10th grade. Excuse me. Micah Starks will represent the 11th graders. And we have Cassidy Cah who represent 12th grade. Our first meeting will be September 2nd. and then they will make a decision on who's going to represent them on the board. So, we will we will have that individual with us uh at every board meeting to lend their voice for all of our learners. So, we're excited about that. Next slide. All right. Next, we'll move into our director's report and we'll start off with Miss Donna Jackson. [Music] Greetings. I'm excited to share with you our information about our grow your own program in which we have a partnership with

068Reach University. Reach University is a proven teacher leader program for the state of Louisiana. Our scholars will earn a BA degree in liberal studies while working toward teacher certification. I'm excited to announce our scholars for this year. We have Sarah Prior, Cassandra Foreman, The Visa Broomfield, Terresa Broomfield, Caricia Muse, and Ashley Davis. I would like for Miss Sarah Prior to come up at this time and she will share her personal experience with each. >> Good evening. I just want to share with you all about my personal experience with each um it's been a challenge but it's an excellent challenge. Um I learned from it's prepared me for my certification everything I need to know for all of um my practices. They prepared us to the tea. They prepared us for classroom management, lesson planning. Anything

069that we need, we think we may not need for a classroom setting, they're preparing us for it. Anything that we might have a little bit of confusion for, they're they're there to help with it throughout the way. So, um I think it's a really good program. It's a really good program. So hopefully, you know, hopefully I will be done this coming May. >> And what I love about this district, St. Helena, we're going to support all of our scholars that are part of Reach University. So we're going to pay 23 of their tuition every month. So that's a great thing. We want to make sure we let them know that we support them along this journey. Any questions? How much is it per month? >> It's $75 per month. >> $75 per month. >> They

070pay >> 25 >> and we pay 50. >> Thank you. >> And and I just want to add to that if I can just stick my nose in there for a moment. All of these are our local >> Yes. >> own. >> Yes. >> So erase some of that negativity. These are our own. So there's no such thing as >> we don't utilize what we have. >> We're using what we have to get what we want. >> That's right. >> And I want to add one more thing. We're adding two more enrollments enrolling. So we're excited. >> Very good. Also, so we add uh we ask all of our teaching assistants. We ask our cooks, janitors, we ask anybody, um, you know, if you're interested in receiving your, you know, your degree in education, we

071will help you do that. So, this is how we grow our own cuz a lot of people who, you know, are here, they don't have the credentials in order to accept the job and they want it. So, to be able to have this opportunity for them is, I think it's a game changer. So, we're very excited about that. Awesome. All right. Next, Miss Singleton, special programs and initiatives. Good evening everyone. Uh just some updates for the department of special programs and initiatives. Uh starting with our partnership. We did have some new partnerships this year we talked about earlier. uh one being the uh partnership for our conflict resolution team. Uh and just as Dr. Joseph had a picture, I have a picture as well of uh the learners. There were 22 learners today that are

072now trained mediators. Um then our uh XP synergy opportunity now the current enrollment is uh 10 learners for the opportunity now program and those are our exceptional learners whether they are exceptional through an IEP or 504 they will qualify for the program um and they have been turning in their their permit so they can get the work experience. Um, ladies of integrity, I introduced them uh last school year. Uh but the partnership is on the ground running for this year and that is uh some of our alumni and their uh peers have developed a group of young ladies doing uh support and um assistance to our young ladies just to build their uh skills academically, socially, emotionally. Um and so they were present at the meet and greet to get some interest from the young

073ladies at the college and career academy. And then um next level educational services that's that uh the program for our learners who want to get those certifications and credentials in the um phottomy classes the EMG CMA program and as I stated earlier we have 20 learners who um have completed the application. There are still some who are more interested but there is that conflict. Some are interested in that but some are interested in the technical program. So okay which one can you do because the next level program are year long. Um, our continuing partnerships as always, our partnerships with the Ottabon, um, Sensational Girls resumed this month. And Miss Keller wanted to do, she's changed the group, so it's only one group at the college and career academy now. So, seventh grade. So, it's fourth

074through 7th grade. Um, we're at the Baton Rouge Food Bank. We uh resumed our pantry distribution. Uh, and the backpack program begins this month. The first set of backpacks will be sent on the 26th. So, the applications have been sent home to learners grades preK through six. So, parents, if you're listening, please submit those back. Um and then go jobs. Our gobs uh learners are those are those seniors who get that work experience and they get to work and learn office skills, executive functioning skills through placement in the district. So it can be at a school site and a district space. Uh and we have three learners and this year they were able to start in June. So they will work June through June instead of in the past it's been September through May. So

075they have an extension. Um PJ's Coffee is now open. Uh we have three newly trained baristas. They are working towards their bronze bean certification and that's just an extended level of training. It starts at run so they can get silver and gold certifications. Uh the hours of operation are 8 to 12:45 and you can place orders through the PJ's website. So if you look for St. Helina. Uh you can look directly through the location locator or you can just do order online and do it that way or you can of course use your card in the actual PJ's uh coffee location in the school. And please know PJs is not just for the kids. It's for anybody. It is a you know we are a franchise owner. So, anybody in the community can come and

076get a cup of coffee and whatever else, you know, treats that we have uh in the store. So, everybody, you know, please sign up and come get some coffee every day. >> Yes. And the first time you can get it is September 21st. Oh, not September, August 21st. Correction, August 21st at the meeting at the uh open house for the high school, but they will be at other events. So last year we had them as a STEM fit. So different events throughout the year they'll be open and operated. And then finally our internships. We had three learners that participated in the summer internship. That was those learners continuing their internship uh before they left for school work or what have you. And then our partners for this year um some are our previous partners uh

077like the hospital we have four intern spots for the hospital uh and they have to have a CNA or some type of medical certification. So that's where that next level will come into play. Uh DIM code will have one intern. The police jury is uh increasing to two this year. Um and then some new additions. TNT Solutions is looking to add on the Council on Aging. The uh St. Parish Sheriff's Office, Faith and Hope Independent Living. Um they also want to do partners. and Miss Jackson gave me information today that Miss Mildred Wat would like to uh start the internship process. So we are sending over theou and everything to her so that we can get the get on the ground running with that. And on August 27th, our workbased learning uh teacher, Miss Courtney,

078Miss Courtourtney is planning a match day to kind of reflect what would happen at a medical school match day where they get their envelopes and they find out where they're going, but they would get their envelopes to find out what their internship placement would be. And so they would uh those partners would come in, they would do some brief interviews with them, some meeting briefs, and just to make it a a fun opportunity for them to get them excited about the internship. And we still do have that um online platform where our learners can get uh or earn their uh credentials online. So, you know, just trying to close those gaps. Um, >> we included um this year the computer science classes looking at um courses in the IC platform and then of course our

079built unlimited environment and they got their official certificate over the summer. So financial literacy >> financial literacy everything that we can find um environmental science class as well. You know they can get a bundle with ICV through a with ducks unlimited the plant in the environment. That's a bummer. Let that get you going. Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Well, next is Tracy Rome, director of child nutrition and wellness. >> Good evening again, board. Um just a quick second. I will be on. >> I'm just giving you some numbers from August 5th through the 13th. Um on our lunches so far, we have served 5,080 lunches, 49 4,940 uh snacks, and 470 4,780 breakfastes. uh since we started, you know, we do a lot of scratch cooking. Even though kids come in, they

080throw it away, but we do cooking with love in that cafeteria. You know, we've done Salsbury steak, we do spaghetti, homemade rolls, fresh salads, you know, and you know, you you hear a lot about my kids coming home hungry. They say that a lot. But the food is there. They get fresh snacks. We make sure that these kids get what they need. Every month we are starting with something new. It'll be something different on the menu that wasn't on there previous. Um so you know we looking into like even superintendent brought me all meatball stuff and we looking into that. If we can get a recipe where we can stay within line guidelines, we will offer boiled meat, corn, and potatoes. We will be doing that. You know, anybody that have suggestions that I can

081align long as it's not state cuz I'm not buying state. Long as it's aligned with the guidelines, send it to me. Send it to me. And if I can um if we can come up with a recipe and give it approved, I will serve. So, you know, I hate the thing where they say my kids go hungry. They go hungry because they want to go home. We put a lot in it with all these programs I got with all this food and stuff. There's plenty in there to eat. Any questions for me? I think the kids, you know, when you when they say that the kids come home hungry. Yeah. because we provide them with breakfast and lunch. Lunch is like at 12. By the time they finish school and get home, it's dinner time.

082So, yeah, it's it's time to eat dinner. So, parents, you got the dinner. We got the breakfast and the lunch. >> Thank you, Miss W. Next is Miss Young, director of exceptional services. Where is PJs? Um good evening again. Um right now you are being issued a snapshot of our exceptional service reports for our population. >> Okay. Now if you notice it's itemized by numbers and grouping. um collectively category 1 encompasses our learners from preK all the way to 12th grade. Now the total it's a breakdown and a combination it's collected in the combination of learners who are receiving instructional minutes related to cognitive needs, speech therapy services, occupational therapy services, adaptive physical education services and lastly um it would be physical therapy services. each category again and not to mention gifted and talented because

083diverse learners we have learners on all is very broad very diverse so we have each category broken down I'll start with prek population we have four learners kindergarten we have 12 first grade 14 pardon me if I'm struggling to see this a little down here but for second grade we have 16 third grade 27 7 fourth grade 28 37 learners for fifth grade 39 for sixth grade 33 for 7th 8ighth grade 27 9th grade 29 10th grade 18 11th grade 34 and 12th grade 25. So that's a ter total population of 343 learners and again this is a combination of all learners and you'll look at category five we have the categories broken down this encompasses all learners who are receiving instructional service for minutes primarily supporting our learners with ELA and math. We also

084have adaptive PE um that would be our learners who would need that physical support um due to a combination of physical impairments. Same with OT and of course with speech therapy services. Our goal is to hone in and allow our learners to expand so that they can articulate and express and communicate effectively. Also, the breakdown of this snapshot includes our exceptional learning service staff members. In total we have 14 teachers. Paraprofessionals, four speech therapy services, we have three occupational therapy services, two adaptive physical education, one number of teachers in the learning space with 13. I look forward to sharing more in-depth view of providing a more in-depth view of everything that we have to offer in our exceptional service department. Thank you. Thank you. >> Next, we have Miss uh Christine Natles, director of academics

085for ELA and social studies. >> Good evening, board and community members. One of the things that I'm going to talk about first is the summer reading program 2025. That's our online reading program where the learners read three on grade level text. Then they take a test. We call it a test, but it's almost like a book report because they're able to report on um you know the key details, characters, what they thought about the book. And that's what I like to read the responses when it says the one of the last questions is would you refer this book to a friend? And you know like some of them one of them said I referred this book to my grandma. you know, so it was just, you know, they just had these all of these wonderful

086little, you know, uh, different responses when they talking about the books um that they read online, which is it's digital, so it's something a little different. There was a total of 40 learners that completed the summer reading assignment. 2013 learners at St. Helina College and Career Academy completed the assignment. At SHA, 114 learners. And at the early learning center, there were 84 learners. The next thing I'm going to talk about is our third grade summer literacy remediation program. This is something a little different than our ready program. Act 422 of the 2023 legislative session mandates that third grade learners scoring well below on three administrations of the Digibles Literacy Screener will not be promoted to the fourth grade. For the 19 learners that scored well below on the two end of the year Gibble screeners,

087a 4-week in-person summer literacy remediation program was held to provide that targeted intervention on foundational skills and on measures on the literacy screener. At the end of the four weeks, the learners were then tested for the third time. The results are as follows. Four learners were promoted because they scored above the well below benchmark score. We have 13 learners that were promoted due to the good cause exemption which was provided for our exceptional learners and two learners were retained. Our I Ready summer remediation we had 254 learners that completed the required 30 hours. We had 65 learners that were retained and 44 learners are awaiting SBLC approval. And the last thing I'm excited to discuss is our A1 fluency tutor that provides um a mirror. It provides real time micro interventions to our learners. And

088it has been extended to include our seventh and eighth grade learners at the high school. Middle school ELA requires longer, more complex passages. The Amir coaches these learners to read with accuracy, pace, and expression. But what's exciting about this is that learners can practice reading aloud privately because all of the learners in the classroom have the headset with the mics. So when they are read, they can they're practicing that fluency privately without the fear of being judged if they have difficulties reading because they can't they can only hear themselves and that AI tutor. So, our first seventh grade class will start that program on tomorrow morning at 9:30. So, I'm excited about that. I'm glad that our middle school learners will have that opportunity to get that extra fluency practice. Any questions? Thank you, Miss

089Nettles. All right. Next, we have Dr. John Paul, director of academics for math and science. >> Good evening, board. I just want to add um with what Mell shared before regarding the ID completion um ID cover sheet was given to the principles as a guideline to determine the number of retainers um in each grade level. Uh based on the guideline um the learners who had 2 hours or less were allowed to complete um the ID lessons during the first week of the school and they had to complete in one session. Uh the learners who had three or three to five hours left um they were given two sessions to complete and also they should have scored basic on test and also the learners who had uh six or more hours left um to complete their

090work will be retained unless the SPLC committee uh discovered any extraating situations. Um so those numbers what Miss N presented were based on these guidelines. We're excited to begin the observation and coaching cycle. Um it officially begins on August the 25th. Um this week and next week um we are doing we are conducting the precycle uh observation to conduct the learning walkthroughs to collect the data um to provide the targeted support for the teachers and it is based on the vital goal three um of our strategic plan. Uh the next is the Louisiana math initiative math lift initiative uh which is really a great initiative this year. um all the three schools in our district will be supported through this initiative. Um through this initiative, the coaches from Zern uh will be will be visiting

091um all the three schools and uh we'll be having the coaching sessions with the Zern coaches from all three schools um and also provide the target support to the learners and teachers. The next thing is the BSCS um partnered um we partnered with BSCS and uh Southern University uh to provide the um the curriculum support to the eighth grade science um teacher. Uh Mr. Woods will be um uh getting this support. It is basically a research study um to see to see the effectiveness of the new open style curriculum. Uh the new science spacing guides have been um drafted uh which integrates all the EXL skills which help all the science teachers to um um assign the digital lessons every day like based on the new lane act. Um all the K through K through2

092teachers will be mandated to complete um the numeracy course. Uh and we had um we had we had this kind of similar mandate uh last year for grade 4 through 8 and uh we completed 100%. Um it is like we are one of very few school district who have 100% completion. The next is the numerousy screener which is coming up this year. This year will be the learning year and uh 2627 will be the implementation year. Um because there are some reporting um not the issues we will not have a full-fledged report from the kite uh state platform we have to have our local screener which will be called kite. So basically this learning year we will have two screeners and uh the teachers and the test administrators are already trained uh for the local

093screener. Uh we are waiting uh waiting uh on more guidelines regarding the state uh through HG grant um all the uh all K through8 teachers will receive the ZAR kids and it has been already purchased and uh thank you Miss Singleton for your assistant on that. Um lastly uh we have the new curriculum for algebra 2 and geometry. Over the summer we had the curriculum review committee uh which uh consisted of all the teachers and uh the admin and the district uh leaders and uh we decided to go with um envision status uh which is really an extensive program to track the learner progress every day. So this is for algebra 2 and geometry. When is our STEM event? Is it STEM Nola? >> STEM Nola event is coming on September 11th. So we will

094have one event in the fall and one event. >> All right. And share your good news with the board and the community. >> So I've been selected as a teacher leader advisor from the state. >> Thank you. >> You want to explain what that means? Um I'm still trying to learn. I approached the state on that. Uh I served on two three different committees. Um the assessment item review committee in the past and also the range finding committee through BRC to understand how type two type three questions are graded. I'm and I'm excited to share that information to our teachers and I'm working on preparing the presentation on that one and I was also part of the standard review committee. I think uh this teacher leader advisor across the state I will be required to

095travel um every now and then to provide the support to different school districts. So that's what I learned so far. >> All right. And last but not least, we have Miss Ashley Castle, our director of finance. >> Hello. Good evening. >> The 2023 2024 financial audit has been completed today. This has been a long hard process. Um a couple of hardships um coming in in 2023. The general ledger had not been reconciled properly. The books and ledgers had not been closed for two prior years. no standard processes were in place to um for a smooth transition for me to come in as far as just being given a guide on what it is. As a result, we um had substantial reconstruction of the financial record that was required to bring the accounts to a reconcilable

096and state. um delaying the presentation of accurate and financial statements and also turn turnovers within the financial auditor's firm as well delayed the entire process. Um through all the hardships we made it. So being that the financial audit is over with and encountering all of those hardships, our only finding was that it was late. >> That's it. So, gathering all the financial documents, reconciling, closing, keeping everything, getting everything on track. We only was found that it was late. So, >> that's good. Good job. >> All right. So, our auditor, they recommended different things. Um, established procedures to ensure uniform guidance. They suggested um just getting on track with turning things in on time. And as a result for the corrective action, I was enrolled in a year-long business manager cohort for the Louisiana Department of

097Education. I completed that. Um it was to help increase compliance and efficiencies within state and local reporting. I also was enrolled in the Louisiana Association of School Business Officials and going to those conferences. It helped me gain knowledge for reporting compliance FIFA preparation and audit requirements to ensure that we can um keep staff decrease turnovers with our department and make sure I turn in everything to the state. So things are put in place to make things better. Um I'm hoping and I am very confident for the years to come that we will not have this late binding and things have been put in place to keep things going. I'm hoping for great things for say Helina with our audits and our state turning. >> Awesome. Great. >> That's the conclusion as well. forever. >> Thank

098you, Miss Castle. And then on August 21st, I have a personal meeting with the uh state superintendent, Dr. Brumley, to discuss uh ways the department of education can support our school system. So, I will have a very candid conversation with him to talk about how his staff can come in and support us a whole lot more. So, that's happening on August 21st. So, I appreciate him, you know, being able to spend that time. um with me on that day. So, this is the start of the school year and so we're very excited about that. I'm uh very grateful for the staff, the directors that we have. They're very capable, very competent individuals who really work hard to make sure that our learners are successful and that we close the gaps and provide more access and

099opportunities for them. At this time, we will let uh Mr. McFersonson come up and present or is all three of you? >> All three, >> oh, excuse me, all three principles. Mr. McFersonson from the Arts and Technology, Miss Smith from the Early Learning Center, and Miss Butler from the College and Career Academy. >> Good morning and community members. We are proud to present to you the first days of school. All right. So, everything that we do, of course, is tied to our district vision. Every time we meet for a PLC, every time we have a big initiative, we want to make sure we have those three pillars. And it's so important to us. Let's clear our throat and let's read our district vision together. Our district vision is to create an equitable productive school culture

100that increases learn success, develops educator effectiveness, and builds public confidence. It allows us to keep the main thing cuz when you lack vision, you never make it to your destination. And at the end of the day, this is the first day of school. We had a DJ. We had a lot of different things happening at our campuses. But to see our incoming third graders smile, it made us u make sure that we had our vision steered in the right direction. All right. So looking at learning success, this is the first part of our vision. We have to tie it back into data. Data data data. Data drives everything that we do. So you look at the bottom picture. That's just an example of some of the data check conferences that we had. Dr. Joseph provided

101us with a wonderful template and we tweaked it because like we said with the new accountability system, 750 is the floor. Nothing below 750 counts. So they were able to look at their previous leap data and they were able to set goals with their home room teacher. They have a portfolio. So after every before and after every benchmark, they're going to review these goals and make sure that they stay on track. Um, as our academic director alluded to, we did make sure at every school site that we adhereed to the um the mandate set forth as far as our I already summer um remediation and making sure that we had everything in place so that way we were consistent across the board. We also um decided to start our SPLC meetings sooner rather than later

102to address any learner needs. And we decided to even look past um I already and look at some of our learners who were in that well below below uh area and make sure that we started the year off strong to evaluate them or just reconfigure their supports as needed. And we wanted to implement our curriculum. Yes, we had uh routines, we had procedures, but we do not have time to waste because if we do not master this curriculum, if we do not master these standards, the learners will not be able to become successful, especially with this new accountability system. Now, I present to you Miss Smith. Good evening, Dr. Joseph. Um, moving on to our next pillar, which is educator effectiveness. Uh we spent a week long prior to the start of the school year

103doing a week-long professional development with all of our staff. Um that's preK through 12th grade. So we made sure that all staff were um they they they received the professional development pertaining to their content area. Um we've also even though it's the second week of school started our PLC meetings. So we've already gotten started with PLC meetings that will happen weekly on Wednesdays. um we are already in classrooms making sure that tier one curriculum is being implemented and utilized um and that we are using bullseye to walk through as a walkthrough tool as we're going into classrooms using a 5x5 model um and that is five minutes five classrooms a day making sure that we get into these classrooms and that we are observing seeing that this curriculum is in place and passing it along

104Miss Good evening board members, community and Dr. Joseph. So I have been tasked with delivering the third pillar which is public confidence. Um we I'm starting with an open house and parent data meetings. Um we did that during our first week. Um to back up open house will be for the college and career academy. It will be Thursday, August 21st from 5 to 6:00 p.m. Also, we incorporated our fire and industrials. Also, our uh updated keeping our social media uh updated, our JC campus postings. Um that's those communications that come to um to all stakeholders through um J campus in the form of text messages, phone calls and emails with important information in our school system. Also uh we were focusing on our safety protocols. Also I want to uh recognize our community partner uh

105use forms. Um they were excuse me available to assist at my campus. Uh during the first week the news uh family was very instrumental in supporting our staff and learners. Uh they partnered with the staff to do classroom walkthroughs uh where they were pleased with the structure and procedures. Um also we are looking forward to continued uh partnerships not only with the Muse family but all our partners because they they are insights uh to St. Helen College. It's very invaluable. So we open our doors not just to keep it open but to build a bridge through our communities. you know, we just want to build up because the bridge is an essential supporting structure that's built through an itemized process that we pray will produce and we know will produce healthy, strong outcomes. So, what

106are our next steps? Of course, we're going to live in classrooms, intentional classroom observation and support and attract weekly through our observation tool. We want to ensure that all of our structures, all of our procedures that we have in place are consistent from the start of the year to the end of the year. We also want to make sure that we provide our parents with frequent opportunities to visit the school sites and to have an active voice in their learners education. Finally, we believe that the systems we establish and the procedures we follow in the beginning determine the strength of the outcomes we see in the end. We started strong and we will finish even stronger and we will produce soaring winning outcomes. Why? because we are # thank you principles. Thank you directors. Um

107and I did um am pushing for our principles to hold the line. Hold the line. Uh we had clear expectations. We had clear procedures. We had policies. We have rules and guidelines and I am pushing for them to hold the line. If you need to have on uh you know a solid color jacket, you come to school with a solid color jacket. If it's stated that you can't have cell phones, that's not our policy. That's that's a state policy. Then you don't have the cell phone. Um, you know, if we say this is a time where you get to go to the restroom or this is the time these things are going to happen, we will be consistent with that throughout. So, principles, I'll say it to you in front of everyone. You hold the

108line and hold everyone accountable and make sure that they rise to the expectations because no one rises to low expectations. And so, we are seven days in, seven days in, board members. And these are all of the things that we have accomplished. Two things once again, we need more community support. We need community involvement. And the second thing, we have got to improve our test scores. And all of the things that you heard tonight are the ways that we're going to make that happen with this new accountability system that's set to take place this school year. So, with that, that concludes my report. Thank you all very much. All right. Next item. Approve committee report from August the 14th, 2025. Motion by Miss George Porter, second by Mr. Hughes. Any questions? No question shall pass

109as by general consent. Before we close our meeting, we do have um a candidate that's running for tax assessor here that would like to speak. So, Miss Tanner, you can come. >> Good evening, Dr. Joseph and the board. I would like to announce that I am a candidate for the tax assessor for St. Helina Parish. My number is number two. I'm asking for your support. I'm asking for your vote on October the 11th. Early registration, it will early voting will be September 27 through October 4th. Also, I want you all to know that I will be transparent. I will be fair. And also, I plan to modernize the technology in the assessor's office if you allow me to leave that office. Um once again my number is number two and I do need your support

110and your vote. Thank you. All right. Announcement of the next meeting date will be at 12893 highway 10 uh Greensboro Louisiana 70441 which will be on September the 11th 2025. closing comments. Any board members? >> I just want to uh say that I hope you all have a marvelous awesome year this year. And principles, I've given you all my number. I don't get around as much as I used to. as much as I would love. But you still can call me. I can talk to you over the phone cuz I got some bad ones in y'all. They not my children, but they're my grand when you call me. But uh and I also would like to send a great shout out to Miss Nettles and Dr. Joseph. I know you all was tired of me

111calling y'all this summer. Please give me the update. I ready. I say, "Lord, if my phone rang one more time, I read it." But I say, "You all, thank you. Thank you so much." Some of the parents, I told them, I say, "Now, you knew this in May when you received your child's report card because on that report card, it says retaining pending summer student." My child is, it didn't say that. If you got a report card, it said it and it told you exactly what subjects they had to complete, ELA or math or ELA and math. But it was some parents that called me and called me. And she's not here, Miss Gloria Brown. I would like to give her a big shout out too because she got on the phone. Me and her

112was I asked I had done it before I asked Dr. Joseph was it okay? But I I had done it being Dr. Joseph was too late to say no. And I have to say Miss Flurry Brown myself. We found parents. I would call Miss Nettles. I even text Miss Nettles during uh the weekend. She say I'm getting ready to go to my godchild. I said, "Oh, I'm so sorry." and how you >> I said just send it to me when you can. But uh I had phone calls all the way up to home. At first it it kind of got to me. My husband used to tell me to just hang the phone up. Hang the phone up. That's talking. I said, "No, I can't do that. I cannot." My heart just I had one

113call me the other night. I said, "Love, it's too late. It just I hated it." I said, "It's too late." But my computer went out. My my internet went down. Oh, they give me all sorts of clues. I said, I'm not saying it didn't, but you should do what you have to do. You could have went to the library in Greensburg. You could have come to my house and I told so long you can come to my house. I have internet. You can come sit at my table. I'm at home every day. If your internet don't work, but I just want to give a shout out to you, Miss Ellis. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. And thank y'all for, you know, contacting the parents and, you know, even it kept Yeah. I mean,

114>> it made a difference. >> It really did. I That's when I really started to see like the momentum, >> you know, the urg, you know, it was like board members, you know, I mean, that's Yeah, that was awesome. That was amazing. So, thank you. So, we can use that. >> Any other comments for our members? >> Uh there's refreshments in the back. There's drinks and um refreshments on the table back there. Please help yourselves. Thank you for coming out. >> Well, the best for last. So, you know, I have something to say. So, I just want as a citizen of St. in affairs. I want us to come together stronger than ever because we can make the difference. And I'm pleading with parents, please do whatever it takes to help your child or your

115children and motivate these kids. They need some motivation. >> That's right. Because sometimes we don't know what these kids are going through. That's right. >> So when they come to school, don't just assume that they have it going on. >> Sometimes just a little conversation with them to see what's going on with them. Don't jump down their throat. >> They may not have the right thing though, but you don't know. that may be the only thing that they have to put on you. So have some kind of sympathy with these kids. I'm not saying please believe me. I'm stern. I'm firm, but I'm fair. And I know that we can make a difference in Selena Parish. Because everybody in the community just come together, stop looking at what he said or she said and come

116together to make a difference for our kids because these are our kids and it's our future. And if we don't take a stand, we going to lose some of them. I'm telling you, we can make a difference. Parents, I'm live again. Mhm. >> Please help your children. Motivate them to do what's right. And that is it. Time to get their leg. Oh yeah. Is this me, Mr. [Music]