St. James Parish School District

The meeting commenced with an opening prayer and pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included the approval of the minutes from the December 9, 2025 meeting. Committee reports were presented: the Executive Committee reviewed a tentative agreement and set the agenda for the current meeting. The Building Committee made three recommendations, approving a change order for the food service warehouse cooler/freezer replacement and the Lucha High School game gym renovation. The Finance Committee received an informational update on the four-year 2026 general fund budget. The board recognized an educator, Kayn Cruz, for receiving the Fox 8 Golden Apple Award, and formally recognized Nicole Florent for her role as the 2025 school board president. Furthermore, the board recognized all certified school board members for National Board Member Recognition Month and approved continuing education hours for members. A significant portion of the meeting involved a presentation by Opportunity Now XP Synergy regarding post-secondary transition plans, training, and workforce opportunities for special education students, including those 18 and older, emphasizing community-based instruction and self-advocacy skills.

The meeting commenced with an opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Key discussions and actions included the approval of minutes from a previous meeting and reports from various committees. The Executive Committee reviewed and approved the tentative agenda for the February 3rd meeting. The Policy Committee discussed and provisionally approved policy revisions contingent upon the adoption of the updated School District Policy Manual. The Finance Committee reported on the FY 2025 audit with no recommendations. The Academic Committee held an informational session on current academic initiatives and the strategic plan. The Finance agenda also involved the approval of two construction payment certificates totaling $388,512.25 for work at St. James High School and Lecher High School. Additionally, the board approved an amendment to the 2526 salary schedule to add supplemental pay for head coaches and assistant coaches for newly established girls flag football teams at both high schools. Approval was also sought to advertise bids for child nutrition supplies for the 2026-2027 school year, which included a discussion on upcoming federal nutrition program changes. Finally, resolutions were approved to update authorized signers for the sales and use tax fund accounts and to approve the annual software license agreement for the sales tax collection system. The session concluded with deliberation in executive session regarding prospective litigation.

This document is a transcript of a video response from Linda Lowman, Principal of the Year for 2025-2026. It discusses her leadership philosophy, which emphasizes real-world experiences, community partnerships, and empowering educators and students. Examples include a garden project involving community partners and students advocating for school improvements, all within a framework influenced by Montessori principles. The document describes her approach to fostering authentic learning and student agency, rather than outlining a strategic plan for an organization.

The meeting included opening ceremonies involving prayer and the pledge of allegiance, followed by roll call. Key discussions centered on committee reports, including the Executive Committee's review and approval of the agenda for the current meeting, and the Building Committee's actions, such as approving contract extensions and moving forward with camera/door access control at Lecher High School softball renovations and approving change orders for warehouse freezer/cooler replacement. The Policy Committee recommended approval for updates to several policies, including GAA (employee substance abuse) and BBA (officers and their duties). Finance discussions involved the approval of eight certificates of payment totaling over $780,000 for various projects like the food service warehouse cooler/freezer replacement and gym renovations at Lecher High School. The board also approved an amendment to a contract with Williamson Speech Therapy and Learning Center regarding renegotiated hourly rates due to a maternity leave. Job descriptions were discussed and approved for a Behavior Strategist (replacing a school psychologist position) and a Library Media Specialist, with updates made to align with current needs, particularly concerning technology support for online testing. Finally, the board convened an executive session to discuss litigation status and strategy involving several insurance underwriters, and subsequently elected Marty Poche as President and Angela Washington as Vice President for the upcoming term.

The meeting addressed several new business items, including a review of the December 2025 Special Education Quarterly Newsletter and a review of the SJPPS Crisis Intervention Guidelines concerning Seclusion and Restraint Techniques for students with specific medical conditions, including information on accessing these guidelines. The Director of Child Welfare & Attendance presented the district's new Risk Assessment process. Council agenda items included a presentation by Magnolia Family Services, LLC detailing their services, evaluation steps, insurance accepted, and contact information. A subsequent dialogue focused on the impact of emotional/behavioral disorders on education and school safety, yielding recommendations for consistent staff training on IEPs and behavior, relationship building with families, medication management, and recognizing Mental Health Days for staff. Closing remarks included suggestions for celebrating National Developmental Disorders Month and Autism Awareness Month.