St. Bernard board hears plan for LEAP Connect dual-enrollment pathway with Nunez Community College

The St. Bernard Parish School Board on April 22 heard a presentation on a new LEAP Connect dual-enrollment pathway with Nunez Community College that staff said will begin in August and pair classroom coursework with hands-on labs and community internships for students with significant disabilities.

Joe Cipollone, staff member, described a three-semester program in which LEAP Connect students will take two courses per semester at Nunez — one lecture and one lab — in an initial pathway focused on environmental services with concentrations in hospitality, culinary and medical fields. "This pipeline is what we're trying to disrupt," Cipollone said, arguing the program is designed to reduce what he called the "school-to-couch pipeline" and increase post‑school employment and college exposure for students who do not pursue a traditional high‑school diploma.

Board members heard staff describe the Nunez campus labs as replicating hotel rooms, hospital beds, full‑service kitchens and office spaces so students can practice workplace tasks in simulated environments. The program will emphasize industry‑based credentials, on‑site internships and outreach to local businesses to create hiring pathways after completion.

Miss Voci, superintendent, told the board the district will start the program in August even as it seeks state-level recognition and credential approvals. She summarized funding plans the presentation identified: students or the district may use supplemental dual-enrollment allocations, and Louisiana Rehabilitative Services has been identified as a partner for supplemental funding. Voci cautioned those sources "are not going to be enough for everybody," and said the district will also solicit business and community support.

Board members asked operational and enrollment questions. Miss Dysart, board member, thanked staff for the work and asked about business outreach; Cipollone said the district will host a May luncheon to present the program to local employers and solicit letters of support. Miss Harris, board member, asked about enrollment size; Cipollone said about 11 students are eligible to begin in August and that the district typically has about 40–50 students in LEAP Connect in a given year, with roughly 10–20 students per year participating in pathways depending on cohort size and readiness.

Staff provided course‑price figures discussed at the meeting: a college course enrollment fee cited in the packet as $570 per course, with separate lab‑related costs discussed in the presentation (staff referenced figures of $240 and a $204-per‑student lab allocation in different places while noting funding availability will vary). The presentation also identified steps needed at the state level — including engagement with the Workforce Investment Commission and industry‑based credential (IBC) approval processes — to secure formal recognition for the pathway.

The board received no formal motion or vote on the program at the April 22 meeting; staff said they will implement the pilot in August and follow up with the board as funding and credential approvals progress. Cipollone and district staff said families contacted so far are supportive: staff reported that families of eligible students who were asked about participation so far indicated interest.

The board’s next steps include the May business luncheon and continuing outreach to the Workforce Investment Commission and other credentialing bodies. Staff identified implementation risk as medium, citing the need for state and workforce approvals and additional funding to scale participation beyond the initial cohort.