[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6345947,"mediaKeyId","2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9","parentId",2247805,"title","Workers'‑comp lost-time claims fall sharply; union calls for audit as transportation mileage rises","audioSeconds",1006,"startMs",8074000,"endMs",9080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9&start=8074&end=9080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9/thumbnail_8074000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345947/Louisiana/Workerscomp-lost-time-claims-fall-sharply-union-calls-for-audit-as-transportation-mileage-rises","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345947-444eb7bd33172e886af83005e4a1c81e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088340&Signature=LF~XIuBagpC07JS2OMyj7DIYvWMfeX-H-OBpPhWM1k2vhU79ra3Q9iMwl8QnwquNbdEEXRJr19SY4-0ynhonieZj68PWo1Jsf1ab5wmIoDNZ4EoienBNz0cny2nPj3YbDaYlO3mp9eF8r-ZOPe9n0v~m7MBBXv0L17vDSZEwGiXHmDDwAX8UUE23-cCj9b8rMDMDaflUJbQFVx3XpiOT47qaZ-8JQOc2~8YZF4PoSkht~MehRUCW-T5FvXOSq-XHYKU-YjfkEXqr2tkk6ZPViafAq3g7t33oskdDi9DETyWjPBIS6uZ2-qbrSYPurVhZiHV~Mx4haNsbmnfNJp8S0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-07T14:52:28Z","article","The district’s 2024 risk-management trend report showed a marked decrease in lost-time workers’ compensation claims compared with 2023, prompting the teachers’ federation to call for an external audit at the Feb. 6 meeting.

Risk-management staff (Mister Davis) told the committee the district recorded far fewer lost-time claims in 2024 than in 2023 and attributed the improvement to multiple operational changes: earlier accommodation of medically restricted employees (return‑to‑work with restrictions), faster scheduling with specialists and proactive follow-up with physicians to obtain work‑restriction details quickly. Davis said the district has worked with local health systems to expedite care and to make reasonable accommodations so employees can return sooner where medically appropriate.

Brent Osborne, president of the teachers’ federation, told the board the drop from 66 lost-time accidents to 16 is a “red flag,” saying incident counts remain similar and urging an external audit of the risk-management program to ensure injured employees receive timely care and that reporting is consistent. \"That is a red flag,\" Osborne said during public comment.

Separately, transportation staff reported a substantial increase in miles driven by district buses in 2024—roughly a 20% increase from pre-COVID levels to about 6.3 million miles. Transportation staff (Mister Burmester) said two main factors explain the rise: the routing required for students with exceptionalities (many of whom are picked up and dropped at the front door rather than neighborhood stops) and more accurate mileage reporting from GPS systems.

Board members asked for further breakdowns: where mileage increases were concentrated, and how risk-management metrics break down by job class. District staff said they will provide additional detail and noted they have reduced time-away-from-work cases through a mix of medical follow-up, accommodated duties, and in-school adjustments when injuries occur.

Ending: The federation requested an independent audit of risk-management processes; the district said it would provide additional data to the board and continue to refine return-to-work and accommodation practices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","STPPS Committee as a Whole: Human Resources & Education – 2/6/25","oneSentenceSummary","Risk management reported a large drop in lost-time worker injuries in 2024; the teachers’ federation called the decline a red flag and asked for an external audit. Transportation staff also reported a roughly 20% jump in annual bus miles, which officials attributed to front‑door special-needs runs and GPS tracking.","taxTitle","St. Tammany Parish, School Boards, Louisiana","taxId",13133,"location","Louisiana","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345951,"HR reports staffing progress, new fingerprinting process and district class-size balancing",762,5658000,6420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9&start=5658&end=6420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9/thumbnail_5658000.jpg","/articles/6345951/Louisiana/HR-reports-staffing-progress-new-fingerprinting-process-and-district-class-size-balancing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345951-c4d02f91d056398ffb7b2add9b6c4219/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088340&Signature=UxBLVoNNnFC2DCWauYEdaTHoLeb8JFtDdRFEgcRdJKAp4~I2aJSZNUUuLMYMgKhA0w3wseEZBrVVxHcB3rFTi~E8wuxG8tpawrdMDjASwhiXLT0hHPnC7smY6xjWEK9wb6mVucB1XbeGhcul0r554nu2XZ9ClUzxqqm9z0EcGqJt~Amhy2~lJAI~GPeYc1YHS2sJ~gfOPh48ADyvYdnYS3TgzB96NYU5up6UyXw3jx~S4qFNciVpkQYioBraef~CHpFV7OFa39EzLAVTI6iXJeK6HXoThc67QGL0b8hcJhdrq3COwoy958TS1M6jKTb-G0SwRlTP4h0C89ksTTeeLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Human Resources presented staffing and class-size updates to the committee on Feb. 6, saying HR staff visited every school to begin allotments for the 2025–26 school year and to help principals build master schedules.

HR Director Alfonso said the department has added 217 teacher substitutes since Sept. 1 and reported an 81% fill rate for teacher assignments as of the day before the meeting. Alfonso told the board that the district implemented a new fingerprint-based background process for employees (the district purchased four machines) and that the cost is $55 per fingerprint check; administrators will also incur re-backgrounding costs for employees whose licensure requires a background within the past five years.

Alfonso said the superintendent asked HR to balance staffing across the district so that schools of similar size and grade distribution have comparable class counts; he said HR and principals worked through projections and adjustments and will continue monitoring changes. He described how specialty electives, small schools and master-schedule differences can skew class-size averages and that the district added positions midyear at schools whose kindergarten projections rose unexpectedly.

Board members raised questions about elective and arts offerings, how block scheduling and specialty classes might affect student access to arts and music, and how staff would monitor whether offerings decline as staffing is balanced. The superintendent and HR staff said they will provide follow-up data on arts, music and theater enrollments and on elective availability so the board can track changes over time.

Ending: Alfonso said transfer and job fairs are scheduled for March 15 and May 10 and that HR will continue outreach to recruit teachers and balance staffing ahead of the 2025–26 school year.","Human Resources said it has visited schools for 2025–26 staffing allotments, implemented fingerprinting for employees at $55 per check and added 217 teacher substitutes since Sept. 1; HR and the superintendent described district-wide class-size balancing ahead of next year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345953,"District to open pre-K applications Feb. 18; limited seats and on-site help available",398,5153000,5551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9&start=5153&end=5551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9/thumbnail_5153000.jpg","/articles/6345953/Louisiana/District-to-open-pre-K-applications-Feb-18-limited-seats-and-on-site-help-available","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345953-e5b5cb2262a2e532d34f0cc7c5dd7031/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088340&Signature=AOkxjNxAU8vX1NtdbXlpRHOn4FRlQga~UNSsXF7wFdXHSG6NEX59NK5o03nYHQ70TgUS6-OdnBcmrDYgOLsIUyF6cuU140s3go0DOtZdLJ3vi~wKv9q5XHMiospbrb8JZnYWTPjBeBPOWaffw7X2LeVBqWlbB0g33sPZcHKTkdKW0sHXh54UB0V61KTmldTc5MOHjqsaYwQTRdHHLQcDxsRFf7wcIMhivA~ElBajq0Mkl3vCZWnCDXNJy06JYALjo7Kl34yPUlhkwZvK2HJPfV8aD4xIxTp0ROUFIPQ4vOwkDw7-l-ijH0WVUSZRkMQ37NMmGt4IiSKULHIsusBK-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Tammany Parish school officials told the committee Feb. 6 that the district will open its 4‑year-old pre-K application at 5 a.m. on Feb. 18 at the Train Technology Center and that the process is first-come, first-served.

Miss Garner, who presented the early-childhood update, said families may complete the application from home once it opens or use computer labs and staff help at the Train Technology Center; district staff and translators will be available to assist families without computer access. Applications are time-stamped at submission, Garner said, and the district has historically filled seats quickly.

Officials described the program as limited in capacity and urged parents to be ready at 5 a.m. on Feb. 18. The district said it typically has “just over 1,400 seats” but provided other numbers on the record that were not reconciled: staff later said there are about 1,100 free seats and \"about 80-something\" tuition-based seats. District officials said qualifying students will be placed on the free-seat list ahead of tuition applicants and the district oversees early-childhood partners including Head Start and licensed childcare centers.

Garner said the application remains open after Feb. 18 for the school year and that the district will maintain lists and assist families who cannot secure a seat at their preferred school by identifying nearby childcare options overseen by the district.

Ending: The district asked families who plan to apply to prepare required documents before Feb. 18 and said staff will post application details and requirement checklists on the early-childhood pages of the district website.","St. Tammany officials said the district’s pre-K application opens at 5 a.m. Feb. 18 at the Train Technology Center; applications are time-stamped and seats fill quickly; the district will provide computer labs and translation help on-site.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345957,"Votes at a glance: minutes, National School Counseling Week resolution, proposed 2026–27 calendar approved",5211,2049000,7260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9&start=2049&end=7260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9/thumbnail_2049000.jpg","/articles/6345957/Louisiana/Votes-at-a-glance-minutes-National-School-Counseling-Week-resolution-proposed-202627-calendar-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345957-0e52415b702b0ec2bde8486c7f190fbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088340&Signature=GaEzaUWXE1ejIWyCJNwsPeAwd5jtXKUrOLllaSnbx2UN0~hxYhedtxXUniNZcBXD6dAkBzXoHKrIjmD7nV~6oFN4QyaJ3hyX4NuMqix30YVGuJZhSoqVfQz61GjpddRwz2TiSvIc9w2rO41eiMDG4X6T246e5kpWWbkIY5WWxUPXBSZ147tq344lzLUSXTgkLnLP8Dd7yPcT~SQGOtQfb3-sRBER2YYq4GVXNV5yZrL3Yfssa9zNhkclY8jTD-VtLr39rjTy47z5HiCo~y5-DFJ3YEq-q1Jh6I-6iDnVxk5rsBvCUyewBZWrvndqUKn6enhYyWBUSnn9uJZPFfyAsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Tammany Parish School Board Committee as a Whole recorded several unanimous procedural votes on Feb. 6.

- Approval of committee minutes (Dec. 2024): Motion made by Miss Hansen and seconded by Mr. Breaux; the committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes.

- Resolution recognizing National School Counseling Week: Dr. Peterson moved the resolution formally acknowledging National School Counseling Week and commending school counselors for their role; the motion was approved unanimously after public comment.

- Proposed 2026–27 school calendar: The committee approved the proposed calendar (motion by Miss Rutherford; second by Miss Lamy). Discussion before the vote covered placement of professional-development days, a proposed fall break tied to the county fair and the length of teacher service days; the motion carried unanimously.

The transcript does not record individual roll-call votes by name; votes were announced as unanimous. The committee will publish final minutes with any additional procedural detail.","The committee unanimously approved the Dec. 2024 minutes, a resolution recognizing National School Counseling Week and the proposed 2026–27 school calendar; board members discussed calendar timing and staff professional-development placement.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345960,"District outlines literacy supports as summer-school fees return after federal funds expire",690,2502000,3192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9&start=2502&end=3192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2247805-6d754f6f8d29122b5fb016e317fb93a9/thumbnail_2502000.jpg","/articles/6345960/Louisiana/District-outlines-literacy-supports-as-summer-school-fees-return-after-federal-funds-expire","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345960-0edea59920c2360b0c5ca718bb70ecaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771088340&Signature=kGIIEeNHgjpAxwTGSXASk8MiZwiPpslDmmwNj1hjnQw6bKMaE-hRGbe5AaAmWm27FrOS544zXxOtZwwPVRHNB0huCGhwOwPK8KbyfNW1qEbLH5zWJW1RtVy6znOAN7xcIJ5-RB6CYSI8xLp3CcScMWyq~19ZS~hRA1dO~QVHapGsCQN0ZqNv2yNpb0UwmPTCELFvGttUwFI25xiTXuG5gCw08UHLQ9DOeHf-3uuvL-fhm9p2EaZqzy-WrGvVB-t-SQNQN6co6iB5ZEbX-ltcoLaUn~LK25uiXeUKz80Ua5EvFiy5ovE5amfLQCAfKGdFJZ6Gw-g6ta0Ezw6wnAS97A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent and curriculum staff updated the St. Tammany Parish School Board Committee as a Whole on Feb. 6 about statewide third-grade literacy requirements, the district’s plan for high-dose tutoring and a separate decision to reinstate summer-school fees for course recovery.

The district said Act 4 22 requires that third-graders who score at the lowest level on the statewide literacy screener (DIBELS) may be retained unless they meet a state “good cause” exemption; Act 771 requires high-dose tutoring (during the school day) for eligible students and the district said that tutoring will be provided at no charge to families. Separately, the district told the board it must restore fees for voluntary summer course recovery because COVID-related ESSER grant funding has expired: $300 per student for kindergarten through 6th-grade in-person recovery (one recovered course), $150 per course for junior high and high school virtual credit recovery (maximum $300).

The district described how DIBELS works as a statewide screener given three times (beginning, middle and end of year), with the end-of-year window opening in April; students scoring “red” (well below benchmark) will get interventions and two more retest opportunities (a May window and a summer window the state has not yet set). District staff said students who are “red” will receive intensive supports and progress monitoring, and that high-dose tutoring is effectively delivered as regular, evidence-based small-group instruction during the school day.

Dr. Langlois, presenting the summer-school update, said the district will continue in-person offerings for kindergarten through sixth grade at east and west sites and will offer virtual credit recovery for junior high and high school. \"For kindergarten to sixth grade students, the charge will be $300 per student to recover that one course,\" Langlois told the board. He said the virtual junior-high option will be $150 per course (up to $300) and the same per-half-credit at high school.

Curriculum staff and elementary supervisors said the district is seeing growth in early-grade literacy proficiency compared with statewide and national averages, and that classroom-level small-group instruction has been used as the district’s approach to “high-dose tutoring.” Speakers said the district will deploy additional human-capital funding the state has provided to support in-school tutoring and that paraprofessionals may be eligible to deliver some tutoring services.

Board members pressed for specifics: how many students might be affected by third-grade retention, how the district would coordinate students who both need course recovery and literacy supports, and how families who cannot pay summer-school fees will be served. District staff said literacy remediation tied to Act 4 22 (students scoring well below benchmark) will be provided at no cost but that the fee applies only to families seeking credit recovery for failed courses once ESSER funds ended. Staff said they will post flyers and use robocalls and the district website to notify families immediately.

Officials noted state rules on good-cause exemptions: a medical diagnosis of dyslexia is a listed ground, and other exemptions can be granted when students have documented, sustained intervention over two years; administrators cautioned that the state’s statutory exemptions are specific and that the local School Building Level Committee no longer has the broad promotion authority it had under prior guidance. Board members asked the district to return with details on numbers affected and operational plans for students who may need both credit recovery and literacy tutoring.

The district said it will provide a more detailed plan for literacy summer supports when the state posts final dates and guidance.

Ending: District staff repeated that classroom-level small-group instruction will be the core of tutoring and that the immediate change families will see is reinstated summer fees for course recovery because ESSER funding ended. Officials said they will continue to brief the board as state windows and funding details are finalized.","Saint Tammany Parish school officials told the board that state literacy laws will require targeted, no-cost tutoring while the district will reinstate summer school fees for course recovery after ESSER funds ended; board members pressed for clarity on screening, exemptions and funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Workers'‑comp lost-time claims fall sharply; union calls for audit as transportation mileage rises

HR reports staffing progress, new fingerprinting process and district class-size balancing

District to open pre-K applications Feb. 18; limited seats and on-site help available

Votes at a glance: minutes, National School Counseling Week resolution, proposed 2026–27 calendar approved

District outlines literacy supports as summer-school fees return after federal funds expire