St. Tammany schools ask voters to renew millage for $295 million capital plan, propose regional STEM and health discovery center

Superintendent Dimasad of St. Tammany Parish Public Schools outlined a capital improvement plan the district will put to voters as a millage renewal, saying the proposal will not raise current tax rates and is intended to fund security upgrades, technology and renovations across dozens of schools.

The superintendent told the Parish Council that early voting for the renewal begins April 19 and the measure will be on the May ballot. "It is absolutely zero tax increase," Superintendent Dimasad said during his presentation, adding the request would continue using funds already designated for debt service rather than creating a new tax.

The plan, as presented, breaks into major priorities: $44 million for immediate security and technology needs and a roughly $251 million construction package that would remodel or replace classrooms at 23 campuses. The superintendent said the total package on the slides equaled $295 million in improvements. He described layered security investments — school resource officers, mental health providers, nurse staffing, badge systems and p25 radios that link schools directly with law enforcement — and said the bond proceeds would eliminate portable classrooms at the targeted sites.

Why it matters: the district said state and federal dollars can only pay for instruction; local property tax dollars are the revenue stream for facilities, upkeep and capital work. The superintendent argued the renewal is meant to preserve facility equity across the parish’s 55 schools, which he said serve about 36,400 students and roughly 6,000 employees.

Among other items in the presentation, the superintendent described a proposed regional STEM and health discovery center sited next to North Shore Technical. The center, he said, would allow students from all eight parish high schools to spend two-period blocks there for advanced CTE and dual-enrollment coursework without disenrolling from their home high school. "When a kid walks across stage at St. Tammany Parish in just a few short years, we will be able to shake their hand and say, congratulations, you got a high school diploma. Oh, and by the way, you earned your associate degree at the same time," Dimasad said.

Council members asked about operational details. Councilwoman Miss Tanner pressed on bus and bus-driver security; the superintendent said buses have on-board cameras and are connected to the same p25 radio system and that the district is moving toward a school-board–owned bus fleet to realize annual savings of an estimated $3 million to $5 million. Councilman Rolling and others asked about a maintenance and welding facility at TJ Smith Expressway; the superintendent said that facility is in service and will host welding programs and maintenance operations.

Support and next steps: several council members praised past bond performance and indicated support for the district’s pitch; the superintendent said he cannot campaign on behalf of the measure but urged residents to vote. He repeated the schedule for early voting and final election in May.

Ending: The presentation closed after roughly an hour of remarks and Q&A. The superintendent said the district’s long-term goal is to expand postsecondary and workforce pathways for students while addressing aging facilities.