[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6567285,"mediaKeyId","3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e","parentId",3340460,"title","Board recognizes St. Tammany junior livestock exhibitors; 92 exhibitors shown, association leaders and students speak","audioSeconds",927,"startMs",823000,"endMs",1750000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e&start=823&end=1750","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e/thumbnail_823000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6567285/Louisiana/Board-recognizes-St-Tammany-junior-livestock-exhibitors-92-exhibitors-shown-association-leaders-and-students-speak","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567285-e52cf2eecccbb733906417510c1720ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775455883&Signature=LlNAigkFKA761UWd5tyQLKa4zEjLdxGAXXYITGX777Sl0YFVGO0Z5dpru1AqgiMf9X2fBWL8jBEOjIZ62u6bvU-SzxSq03q-YA86dXSz48SmFaqcGhqwcr1-T1QxDb-AXo22d-eoosiqzTigFra1xjy0IiXP1ntO-X9x2AMcKLwpzJi0F8eSUci8x~~xXUM~1-Be1LKNFrac~WmI5uTr1gvtVvH8XkDO71sR6TB-IHT0DIR~S8Q9X6hDFJ26r1553H7Y3X-vvValjg09ll0ZNMN5yMPJex5zRyx1mFWoaMpkZKUpKlJVA66ox549~htjs4zESkFmUD3v5kzJFK8xNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Tammany Parish Public Schools","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","The St. Tammany Parish School Board offered special recognition to junior livestock exhibitors and 4‑H leaders at its May 15 meeting, highlighting the program’s role in student leadership and family involvement.

Brent Spell, identified at the meeting as president of the St. Tammany Parish Livestock Association, introduced 4‑H agent Olivia Picard, who told the board the parish had 92 livestock exhibitors showing more than 450 animals at the recent parish show. “These young people represent the heart of what 4‑H and agricultural education stand for,” Ms. Picard said.

Students spoke about what the program taught them. Zoe Simons, a recent Pearl River High School graduate and exhibitor, described starting with poultry in elementary school and later showing goats and cattle; she thanked ag teachers and 4‑H leaders and recounted receiving the Kathy Jo Thompson award at her final parish show. Freshman Aubrey Nunez of Covington High described livestock showing as “responsibility and discipline” that taught her leadership and confidence.

Longtime volunteer Dennis Glass (referred to in remarks as a 70‑year 4‑H participant) told the board the program is a family activity that has sustained multiple generations and credited parishwide support for keeping a youth livestock sale operating in St. Tammany Parish when similar sales have ended elsewhere.

Board members praised teachers, volunteers and students and asked attendees to stand for recognition. President Green thanked the students, volunteers and parents and recessed briefly to allow those being recognized to depart if they wished.

Why it matters: board members emphasized the program’s extracurricular benefits — public speaking, leadership, responsibility and community ties — and the district said it values continued support for ag teachers and 4‑H volunteers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","STPPS Board Meeting - 5/15/25","oneSentenceSummary","The St. Tammany Parish School Board recognized junior livestock exhibitors and 4‑H supporters on May 15. Officials and volunteers praised the program’s role in building students’ leadership and responsibility; speakers said 92 exhibitors showed more than 450 animals.","taxTitle","St. Tammany Parish, School Boards, Louisiana","taxId",13133,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6567290,"District highlights gifted showcase; district says gifted identification rate is 6.12%",522,2123000,2645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e&start=2123&end=2645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e/thumbnail_2123000.jpg","/articles/6567290/Louisiana/District-highlights-gifted-showcase-district-says-gifted-identification-rate-is-612","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567290-b33d9639e06d40790a94e0b496511845/orig.mp4?Expires=1775455883&Signature=c1bm8HE9P-ILqs~jDMbZ1ZW57USsZQ-wswidyporQfUwoRJzCiLx8cBIorAAMGLcSXfazWmt6GWnpAhz7EiSu9AjVZ0S1xqKy5TzvHACzNCnA2eLQPGl7Z2F29IFu8Q4w0IwdVaHO4aPe~OUzV2lxS073AXNxTS-78S0OHIo18mzFU7KSdU3tMzL2AUFemu2tTDZwRTUK14cMclImZv-KV~HgWJxqq6JjoqUfpIdHFliaNCZqlJHZi2Z5hnvxqOAsLMo7K22jnf1AmUbK4RWJcr4urQPwu2oCkUI0A2lIDAc1ZVXEY6HY8p3BbPBKICgr2I4RhtaX2SdrAQw9NFkIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff updated the St. Tammany Parish School Board on the district’s gifted program and the second annual gifted showcase during the May 15 meeting, reporting program data and planned outreach initiatives.

“Currently, the state reports the numbers for both programs collectively rather than separately,” Ms. Gardner, a district staff member, told the board. She said the district’s gifted-and-talented student population was 6.12% as of the Feb. 1 count and contrasted that with a 5.37% rate in 2009–10, noting year-to-year comparisons can be misleading for single data points.

Screening and services: Ms. Gardner said Louisiana Act 688 requires screening of second- and third‑grade students who score above grade level on the state literacy screener and that the district exceeds the mandate by screening all second- and third-grade students. “Currently, we use the Naglieri for this purpose,” she said. The district also uses DIBELS for the state literacy screening.

Classroom practice and high-school pathways: gifted teachers receive district tier‑1 curriculum and may scaffold pacing and add approved outside resources, Ms. Gardner said; scheduling is a school‑based decision made with administrators. The staff update noted many high‑school students opt for Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment courses instead of gifted-labeled classes because colleges do not recognize gifted classes for credit.

Showcase and next steps: the second annual gifted showcase brought students and teachers together to present projects, and Ms. Gardner said the district will add a dedicated website, information tables at open houses and continued universal screening next year. She also thanked mental-health staff and described additional outreach including “first aid packets” for parents explaining the gifted program.

Board members asked clarifying questions about screening, coding students who defer services, and how the district will track students who are gifted but take AP or dual-enrollment classes in high school. Ms. Gardner said the district will refine coding in the student information system so gifted students who defer services or who have a primary disability and gifted as a secondary characteristic are captured in district records.","District staff told the board the St. Tammany Parish gifted-and-talented population was 6.12% as of Feb. 1 and described screening practices, teacher autonomy and next-year initiatives following the district’s second annual gifted showcase.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6567296,"Votes at a glance: bond canvass, mental‑health proclamation, retirements and consent items approved",155,7320000,7475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e&start=7320&end=7475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e/thumbnail_7320000.jpg","/articles/6567296/Louisiana/Votes-at-a-glance-bond-canvass-mentalhealth-proclamation-retirements-and-consent-items-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567296-4edf8a558bba8231476cb181e9849879/orig.mp4?Expires=1775455883&Signature=C6mcQGvzfP6KLdlGs3JRqRnx2iQsP2jYolXFxdSWKD4YArM~TIuWZVDVAFpEbzlQUzJYm7iQTbQi18hm40m61AySaZwBTYTy5H-sv0Z-1~n1vHEKV0w9miL-tP-IkcXcBQQQ44Vnn~4QdB60duKHXCwUBV1MAwBm9pmN4MFFQbdAzCpqkj1PQ9EH9QH~Yz27HeLbJmfI0byuSY-yscHSWcRklKuPRBFifxMjrT33cgGhC-34PASaKKbUfVdJfldXZLf9X9IlCRVrccHxFrNy7wDecc-F2giwGuaxzxHo5Obb4ncAB9pffXs~-qi7ME8h-LL-op~G2IOZ3-bZekaoJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Tammany Parish School Board took several formal actions on May 15, including canvassing the results of a May 3 bond proposition, adopting a mental-health proclamation, approving retirement resolutions, and approving the consent agenda.

Canvass of school bond returns: Grant Schluter, bond counsel, presented the required canvass of returns for the May 3 special election authorizing general-obligation bonds. Schluter said the district’s passage rate “compared very favorably with the other school boards across the state.” The board voted unanimously to adopt the canvass and declare the results approved.

Mental Health Awareness Month proclamation: The board adopted a resolution proclaiming May as Mental Health Awareness Month in St. Tammany Parish Public Schools. The resolution noted national observance since 1949 and acknowledged the district’s commitments to mental-health supports for students and staff; the resolution passed by unanimous vote.

Personnel actions: The board approved retirement resolutions submitted for certificated and employee-support staff. Examples listed in the minutes include Amy B. Abney (Bonnie E. Cole Elementary) and Raymond L. Carter (Lee Road Junior High). Those retirement resolutions were approved unanimously.

Consent agenda and other items: The board approved a multi-item consent agenda that included a resolution to end LEAP and acceptance of Fontainebleau High School additions as substantially complete (subject to final architect and regulatory approvals). The consent agenda passed unanimously.

Votes recorded in the minutes: the bond canvass, the mental‑health resolution, retirement motions and the consent agenda were carried unanimously by the board. The CEP decision (covered separately) passed 7–5.","At its May 15 meeting, the St. Tammany Parish School Board unanimously approved the canvass of a successful May 3 bond proposition, adopted a Mental Health Awareness Month resolution, accepted several retirement resolutions, and passed the consent agenda (including a resolution to end LEAP and acceptance of Fontainebleau High additions).",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6567300,"St. Tammany School Board votes 7-5 to continue universal school meals for one year",3537,3732000,7269000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e&start=3732&end=7269","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340460-26b7d048b2aba9094f0f96f3592afe9e/thumbnail_3732000.jpg","/articles/6567300/Louisiana/St-Tammany-School-Board-votes-7-5-to-continue-universal-school-meals-for-one-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567300-2b9407debcf3f309322165d5065a46c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775455883&Signature=aP435u~IgcWSgctH4TNOds03a3xHTdW9qufBqijV-oCBwKZrQDLqq3TyM2UWtaEwI6K5~LYRFdG44PWTtquFJdG4ykAWDunbsC~9~R6Hi6O-aP0dangUyKPdl30hGVDoKCrY7AKnX4W7cUoziKaz6IiKpihEcHtNPMIerBsoOIy3a2JxNFytGRyKHMtLtp5B99fvZOxB8HVL5tQMC9rTGAIHqDxntbNECuuy74SQQWzrC5s2iGowO0nP6-nIsGXE2BKYzcN4tBUpcEvr14d1~CJRSKHPrz-saw4otMknpfHIqjrBLluB5TQ85FXg-TRC2pfkUfsqo21Y45bdTQi6gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Tammany Parish School Board voted 7–5 on May 15 to continue the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), the districtwide free-meals program, for one school year and instructed staff to revisit funding and program viability before the following school year.

The board took the vote after the administration outlined a plan to offset the additional cost by using existing capital fund balances and payroll savings. “With governmental funding uncertainty and our CEP percentages falling, the administration and board would need to reevaluate the continuation of the CEP program beyond next school year,” Ms. Prevost, a district staff member, told the board as she described proposed budget adjustments.

Why it matters: the CEP removes meal-charging barriers for families and increases federal reimbursement for meals served, but it also changes how the district documents free/reduced eligibility and reduces direct USDA reimbursements tied to family applications. The administration said continuing CEP for one year would add roughly $877,952 to the district’s cost for the coming year and bring the total district cost for the program next year to about $2.5 million; without CEP, staff estimated the district would need to find roughly $1.7 million from operating or capital transfers to cover rising food-service costs.

What the board debated: board members and community speakers clashed over whether the district should absorb the additional cost or return to the application-based free/reduced system and collect payments from families who can afford them. At the meeting union representative Mr. Osborne said he was providing information rather than a recommendation, noting the national union’s position: “The A.F.T. supports universal lunch programs like CEP. I personally don't,” he said, urging a rigorous local study of costs and waste.

Supporters argued CEP reduces barriers and administrative burden. Board member Mr. Breaux, who urged keeping CEP, said his calculations showed broader community savings and described the program as “beneficial to the parish.” Opponents warned the program would shift money from planned capital projects and asked for additional transparency on exactly which funds would be used.

How administration proposed to pay: Ms. Prevost outlined options including reducing next year’s parish-wide construction transfer by $1,000,000 and not funding the planned $1.8 million roofing contribution for the fiscal year, freeing roughly $2.8 million in capital fund balance to cover food-service needs. She also cited potential savings from worker’s-comp and health-insurance trends and tighter food-service salary monitoring.

Process and next steps: administrators said the board’s adoption covers fiscal 2026 only and that the district will reevaluate the program next year and notify parents if it is discontinued. The board vote passed 7–5; President Green announced, “that motion carries 7 EAs, 5 Nays. So we will continue the CEP for 1 more year and reevaluate.”

The debate included repeated procedural questions about whether the item should return to the full board after failing in committee the prior week; legal counsel and staff said it was permissible to bring amended recommendations back to the board for a full vote.

Community impact and caveats: district staff warned projected numbers are estimates because the district no longer collects the same free/reduced application data while on CEP; staff said comparisons to pre‑CEP years are imperfect. The administration and several board members said they expect to monitor reimbursements, participation and fund balances closely over the coming year and return to the board with updated figures before making any multi‑year commitment.","The St. Tammany Parish School Board voted 7-5 on May 15 to continue the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) — a districtwide free-meals program — for the 2025–26 school year while administrators plug funding gaps from capital fund balances and plan a reevaluation next year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board recognizes St. Tammany junior livestock exhibitors; 92 exhibitors shown, association leaders and students speak

District highlights gifted showcase; district says gifted identification rate is 6.12%

Votes at a glance: bond canvass, mental‑health proclamation, retirements and consent items approved

St. Tammany School Board votes 7-5 to continue universal school meals for one year