SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES STIPENDS FOR EMPLOYEES

The Livingston Parish School Board on Thursday (Sept. 19) approved a slate of three stipends to give to employees, with one-time allocations coming from local, state and federal funds.

“These stipends are the result of our Board’s efforts to identify all available funding for our teachers and staff,” Superintendent Jody Purvis said.  “While we recognize that these increases are not recurring pay raises, as we would like them to be; they are solid investments in our people and reflect our appreciation for jobs well done.”

Purvis noted that the first payment will be issued on Oct. 10, 2024, including the state’s Certificated and Support Staff Stipend, as approved during the 2024 General Legislative Session, and the ESSER Recruitment and Retention Stipend being funded by the district’s remaining federal ESSER funds.

The state’s stipend includes $2,000 for eligible full-time, active certificated employees, and $1,000 for full-time, active support staff.  To be eligible for this stipend, employees must be full-time as of Sept. 30, 2024. Employees who are categorized as full-time, but work less than 40 hours per week, will receive payments that are proportionate to their work schedules.

The ESSER Recruitment and Retention stipend includes $500 for all eligible full-time, active employees. Those monies have been made available by the district’s remaining ESSER funds that were awarded by the federal government as part of Congress’ economic stimulus action.  Employees must be actively working as of Sept. 30, 2024, to be eligible for the stipend. Contract employees, substitutes or those on workman’s compensation do not qualify.  Employees who have used any leave without pay days are not eligible.

The third stipend, an Attendance / Retention payment being funded by the district’s general fund, provides $1,500 to all eligible full-time, active employees.  The funds will be issued May 30, 2025, requiring that eligible employees do not resign, retire or have their position terminated prior to May 16, 2025.

Employees hired prior to January 21, 2025, and who work the full duration of the second semester will be eligible to receive the full stipend. Employees hired after January 21, 2025, and before March 1, 2025, will be eligible to receive half the stipend, or $750. Employees hired March 1, 2024 or later are not eligible to receive the stipend.  Contract employees, substitutes or those on workman’s compensation do not qualify.  Employees who have used more than two days leave without pay days after January 1, 2025, are not eligible.

“This decision reflects our ongoing commitment to recognizing your hard work and dedication to our school community. We appreciate your continued efforts to provide the best education and support for our students. This stipend is a small token of our gratitude for your professionalism and dedication,” Purvis said.

WESTSIDE JUNIOR HIGH RECEIVES GRANT FOR AQUAPONICS PROGRAM

Sixth graders in Westside Junior High’s aquaponics class take turns scooping Blue Gill fingerlings with a fish net and putting them into the lab’s lage water tank.

Westside Junior High School has been awarded a $405,000 grant from the Louisiana Department of Education to establish the state’s first Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) learning environment.

A CEA is an agricultural system grown within a controlled environment, allowing for technology-based farming interventions. This project will enable students to explore environmental issues impacting their local Gulf Coast communities while learning about aquaculture and conservation.

The aquaponics curriculum will utilize a catfish and lettuce grow system to offer a hands-on experience that highlights sustainable food production and environmental stewardship.

BESE President Ronnie Morris announced the grant during a special presentation at the school on Sept. 18.  The grant is funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM) Gulf Research Program (GRP) to support an initiative called Greauxing STEM-Stewards.

Westside Junior High will serve as the model school where the curriculum, learning lessons and virtual community of practice will be established before expanding the Greauxing STEM-Stewards program statewide.

LIVINGSTON PARISH STUDENTS TRAINING TO BE FIREFIGHTERS

Pictured are those Livingston Parish students enrolled in the Louisiana Fire and Emergency Training Academy sponsored by Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 4. They are, from left to right: Tamara Fonseca from Walker High School, Kloie Wheat from Doyle High School, and Robby Vavasseur and Brayden Duncan from Denham Springs High School.

Four Livingston Parish students are participating in a unique firefighter training program this school year that will allow them to earn class credit and fire training certification that can help them pursue professional firefighting careers.

The local Louisiana High School Firefighter Training Program is sponsored by Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 4 (LPFPD4), the parish’s largest fire protection district, serving more than 70,000 residents across more than 225 square miles.

“This program gives our youth the chance to learn about local fire, rescue and emergency response organizations in a safe, controlled and educational manner,” said LPFPD4 Chief of Training/Safety Keesler Fly, who leads the program with Chief Frank Dellucky.

Fly said successful completion of the course provides students with training in Hazardous Materials Awareness, Hazardous Materials Operations, Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 instruction.

SEVENTH WARD ELEMENTARY RECEIVES NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

Seventh Ward Elementary students play on new equipment, valued at $50,000, that was donated to the school by the Denham Springs Pilot Club.

Students at Seventh Ward Elementary in Denham Springs can now enjoy new playground equipment on their campus, thanks to a generous donation by the Pilot Club of Denham Springs.

The local charitable organization raised $50,000 to purchase and install the new equipment on the campus.  This is the second playground donated by the club, its members donated similar equipment, also costing $50,000, to Holden School earlier this year.

“We know that children develop a host of skills through play, but many of our students in Livingston Parish may have limited access to safe play equipment on the campuses,” said Terri Borde, a Pilot Club representative.

Borde said the Pilot Club has adopted a 5- to 10-year plan to provide playground equipment to elementary campuses across the parish that is accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.  She said the club hopes to target two elementary schools each year.

NEW POLICIES IN EFFECT FOR 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

Important policy changes have gone into effect this new school year because of new laws passed by the Louisiana State Legislature over the summer.  Some key changes include:

• No student shall possess, use, or operate any electronic telecommunication device during the instructional day or in any school bus. The devices include, but are not limited to cell phones, ear buds or any other accessories that connect to a cell phone. Students in grades 6-12 are not banned from having cell phones, but they must be turned off and stowed away in a backpack or duffle bag. Students will not be allowed to use their cell phones during the school day or on a school bus. Students in pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade are not allowed to have phones with them at their school or on the school bus.
• Students in grades 6 through 12 who are suspended a third time within the same school year for any offense, excluding those related to dress code or tardiness, will face expulsion on the third offense. Previously, the district’s policy called for expulsion on the 4th offense, so the new policy is a stricter guideline.
• Parents will be held responsible for having their truant student make up missed class assignments. Parents will have to attend meetings at the school with their child until the issue is resolved. Parents or guardians who fail to meet the state’s mandatory attendance requirements could face a series of escalating consequences.
• The possession of any tobacco product, smokeless tobacco, or marijuana product in any form is prohibited, including smoking objects or devices, such as e-cigarettes and vapes. These products and objects are not allowed on any campus or school bus, nor are they allowed at any school-sponsored event.

STUDENT SCORES UP IN LIVINGSTON PARISH; 26 SCHOOLS SHOW ASSESSMENT GAINS

Scores for Livingston Parish students in grades 3-8 who took LEAP and high schoolers who sat for End of Course assessments are up overall in Livingston Parish, with 26 of the district’s schools showing assessment gains, according to the 2023-2024 accountability report released by the Louisiana Department of Education.

At the same time, the percentage of students scoring Mastery or above on those tests remains consistent.

Superintendent Jody Purvis said the parish’s assessment index grew by 1.3 points overall, showing more students making academic gains across the full spectrum of the state’s accountability system. That analysis also showed 26 of the district’s schools scored academic gains.

He noted that South Live Oak Elementary was among the state’s very best for growth, ranking No. 4 overall with a 14.3-point increase.  South Live Oak Elementary grew its percentage of Mastery scores in all academic categories, with 66% of its students tested scoring Mastery or above in all subjects combined.

Other Livingston Parish schools that showed high growth in their assessment index in all categories included French Settlement Elementary at 8.6 points, Southside Elementary at 8.5 points, Walker Elementary at 5.4 points, Eastside Elementary at 5.1 points, Seventh Ward Elementary at 4.3 points, North Corbin Elementary at 4.1 points and Live Oak Middle School at 4.0 points.

At the high school level, the district showed high numbers of students scoring Mastery in English/language arts. The district had 53% of its high school students score Mastery or above in English I and 56% scored Mastery or above in English II.  The state average is 41% at Mastery or above for English I and 47% at Mastery or above for English II.

Other district high points included Holden High scoring 61% Mastery or above in English I, 70% Mastery or above in English II, 62% Mastery or above in geometry, and 61% Mastery or above in U.S. History.

DISTRICT RECEIVES GRANT FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING

Livingston Parish Public Schools will invest more than $120,000 into strategic planning for improving the district’s overall outcomes, thanks to funding from the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) through its Reimagine School Systems grant program.

The state program is aimed at districts that are interested in bold, systemic change to improve access to high-quality instruction for students and families.

The Reimagine School Systems program works with school leaders to create new high-quality educational opportunities through innovative and sustainable Reimagine School Actions that are aligned to school system strategies and to community needs.

“We are excited about taking advantage of these resources to further examine our system for new and bold ways to improve,” Superintendent Jody Purvis said.

Purvis said the district’s efforts will be guided by professionals from the School Leadership Center (SLC) of New Orleans who will review district action plans and gather input from all stakeholders – students, parents, teachers, staff, supervisors – to gain perspective on current plans and activities.  From that research, the SLC team and the LPPS Strategic Steering Committee will develop a five-year focus to aid the district in continuous improvements.

Purvis noted that the district will take an intentional approach in identifying improvements that maximize growth, while being efficient.

He said the entire process should take about eight months to complete.

ASSESS THE NEED CAMPAIGN WRAPS UP 24^TH YEAR

Volunteers from across the parish recently completed their tasks of collecting donations and distributing schools supplies to needy students across the parish, as part of this year’s Assess the Need School Supply Campaign.

The not-for-profit program helped meet the needs of nearly 3,500 students in Livingston Parish’s 43 public schools, including Pre-K and Head Start programs. The supplies were distributed to all the schools prior to the first day of classes. Other supplies and school items are provided throughout the year as needs arise.

Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor has sponsored the program each year for the past 24 years.

“We know this program helps so many children, giving them the supplies and support they need to start a new school year.  We want to thank our school leaders who work with us to identify needs in our community and distribute these supplies directly to those families; to our many volunteers who help to collect donations, organize and distribute the supplies; and to our greater communities who generously gives each year to our children – it’s a great team effort,” Taylor said.

Volunteers from Holden High School stood outside the Cain’s Family Supermarket in the Town of Livingston to collect donations for this year’s Assess the Need Campaign.

Assess the Need volunteers Bobbi Jo Guerin and Krysta Watts delivered floor mats to French Settlement Elementary Teacher Myra Smith.  The floor mats will be used by the school’s kindergarten classes and physical education classes for naps and floor exercises.

DISTRICT UNVEILS NEW LOOK

The district is now sporting a new look to better convey the message that Livingston Parish Public Schools empowers, challenges and inspires its students, faculty, staff, parents, school leaders and community leaders to learn, achieve and excel. The new design was created by Live Oak High School graphic design students and instructor.

SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES PLANS TO AIR CONDITION BUSES

The Livingston Parish School Board recently approved a proposal to seek bids on providing air conditioning for the district’s bus fleet, as well as applying for a grant to obtain 20 electric air-conditioned buses.

The approved action includes seeking bids to retrofit 151 buses currently owned and operated by the district, as well as upgrade its agreement with Kent Mitchell to add air conditioning to 34 buses the district leases.

At the same time, the district will look to purchase an additional 63 air-conditioned buses to equip 100% of the fleet with air conditioning.

Superintendent Jody Purvis said the A/C initiative will be a very costly one for the district, especially in its initial phase. He anticipates the cost to be close to $11 million. He noted that air conditioning the fleet will increase bus maintenance and fuel costs, as well as increase servicing needs. The district’s current mechanics will require additional training, and new purchases will require more comprehensive warranties, he said.

ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES RACHAEL RAY GROW GRANT

Pictured are Suzanne Fekete-Stilley, culinary instructor at Albany High School, (second from left) and representatives of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, (from the left) Director Amy Saltzman, Program Coordinator Alex Diachok, and Senior Manager Erica Garner.

Albany High School is one of 40 high schools nationwide selected to receive a $5,000 grant from The Rachael Ray Foundation and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) to enhance its ProStart culinary arts and restaurant management program with new equipment, curriculum, and experiential learning opportunities.

The funds will be used to purchase a hydroponics garden system, fund a field trip to the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute, and purchase new chef coats and aprons for the students, as well as knife sets, sous vide cookers, blenders and utensil sets for the school’s culinary classroom.

“Our students will also benefit from this grant by using a portion of it to earn the ServSafe Manager certification,” said Suzanne Fekete-Stilley, the ProStart teacher at Albany High School. “Our kitchen and culinary classroom are currently being renovated from a 1986 home economics kitchen design into a modern restaurant-style, commercial kitchen that will better prepare our students to become leaders in the industry.”

PILOT CLUB PROVIDES GRANT TO SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN HOLDEN

The Pilot Club of Denham Springs is providing the Center for Academic and Behavior Supports in Holden, a program developed by the Livingston Parish School System’s Special Education Department, with a $2,000 grant to purchase sensory equipment for the staff to use with the students.

The club received a $1,000 grant from Pilot International for a project entitled, “Sensory Materials for Students in Need of Behavior Supports,” which the local organization matched and awarded to the program.

The sensory equipment will assist in teaching behaviors to replace aggression, which leads to an increase in self-management, safety for students and teachers, and an increase in instructional time for students with behavior challenges caused by trauma and brain-related disorders. Pilot Club members will also volunteer their time and talents to the center, by preparing academic materials for teachers and reading to the students.

Pilot International’s mission is to influence positive change in communities throughout the world. To do this, volunteers come together in friendship and service to focus on encouraging brain safety and health, and to support those who care for others.

ASSESS THE NEED SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE DATES ANNOUNCED

Livingston Parish Assessor Jeff Taylor, business sponsors and volunteers are once again conducting the Assess the Need supply drive to provide classroom supplies for needy students this school year.

Volunteers will be collecting donations at local grocery stores on August 3-4 and August 10-11. Those participating stores include Cain’s Family Supermarket (Albany, Livingston, and Springfield); Carter’s Supermarket (Hatchell Lane in Denham Springs, Vincent Road in Denham Springs, and Walker), Oak Fresh Market in Watson and Village Markets in Head of Island and Maurepas.

All donations are tax deductible and benefit Livingston Parish students. For more information or to make an online donation, visit AssessTheNeed.com.

MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BEGINNING THIS SUMMER

Livingston Parish Public Schools has begun construction on three major construction projects this summer – the construction of the new South Fork Junior High School in Walker, the new cafeteria and classroom wing for Albany Upper and Lower Elementary Schools, and the new gymnasium at Live Oak Junior High. All three projects are expected to be completed for the 2025-2026 school year.

“It is exciting to see this much construction in the district. Our parish is continuing to grow and these new facilities will enhance the learning environments on those campuses,” Superintendent Jody Purvis said.

The new South Fork Junior High School will share the campus with South Fork Elementary, located at 23300 Walker South Road.  The new $25 million school is expected to house 800 students when it opens. The new campus will share the cafeteria kitchen facility with the elementary school, but all other facilities will be separate.

Architectural rendering of the new South Fork Junior High

The new Albany cafeteria will occupy the space of a former classroom wing on the Upper Elementary campus.  The current cafeteria will remain in operation until the new one is completed, and at that time, it will be renovated for other educational space.

The new cafeteria will have a greater seating capacity, allowing the two schools to serve lunch simultaneously in separate dining areas, thereby improving each school’s daily schedule. The new wing will also include four classrooms and student bathrooms. The project, which is expected to cost $7 million, is being funded with a dedicated half-cent sales tax that was approved by local voters.

Architectural rendering of new Albany Cafeteria

The new Live Oak Junior High gym will replace the facility that burned in 2022. The new facility will include a regulation court, bathrooms, team lockers and a concessions area. The construction costs are being paid with insurance monies and local school district funding. The total build out is expected to be $4.7 million.

Architectural rendering of new Live Oak Junior High Gym

The new Live Oak Junior High gym will replace the facility that burned in 2022. The new facility will include a regulation court, bathrooms, team lockers and a concessions area. The construction costs are being paid with insurance monies and local school district funding. The total build out is expected to be $4.7 million.

RESTORATION OF DSHS HALLWAY UNDERWAY AFTER ARSON ATTACK

Repairs are underway in the English Hall of Denham Springs High School.

District maintenance workers have begun making repairs and replacing damaged items inside the English Hallway at Denham Springs High School, following an arson attack on the school earlier this month.

The fire incident occurred after all students and employees were dismissed for the summer break.  Law enforcement officials recently completed their investigation of the matter, and they are in search of the suspect.

LPPS Maintenance Director Jerry Glascock said that while the fire did not cause structural damage to the facility, it did cause more than $1 million worth of smoke and heat damage.  Much of the hallway’s ceiling tiles, flooring and walls must be replaced, as well as lighting fixtures and electrical wiring that was damaged by the heat.

Glascock said the repairs will be completed in July, allowing the facility to open with the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

ALBANY LOWER ELEMENTARY NAMED SADD CHAPTER OF THE YEAR

Pictured from left to right, are Albany Lower Elementary SADD members Olivia Calderone, Nadia Stock, Seth Murray, Cole Onellion, Karter Craig, Autumn Montana, Rory Piper, Kenneth Salomon, Brenlee Simpson, Reece Umbach, Amelia Wells, Brantley Cook, Mason Emmett, Keith Jacobs, and James “Kyle” Stewart. Sponsor Ashley Director is pictured in the back.

Albany Lower Elementary was named the 2023-2024 SADD Elementary Chapter of the Year for its efforts to educate students about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Students Against Destructive Decisions is a national organization that supports efforts to empower and mobilize students and adult allies to engage in positive change through leadership and smart decision-making.

Ashley Director is the school’s SADD sponsor. She has served in that capacity for the past seven years.

SUPERINTENDENT PURVIS HEARS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING COFFEE SESSIONS

Superintendent Jody Purvis meets with community members at CC’s Coffee House in Denham Springs.

Superintendent Jody Purvis recently held a series of public coffee sessions across the parish to give community members an opportunity to meet him and share questions and concerns they may have about the district or their particular schools.

“I appreciate those in our communities who took time to meet with me and share information,” Purvis said. “It’s this kind of open-air environment that I hope we can instill at every level in our system to allow best ideas to come forward.”

U.S. NEWS REPORT RANKS THREE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS IN STATE’S TOP 25

Three Livingston Parish high schools have earned a Top 25 ranking among public high schools in Louisiana, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best High Schools report.

Those schools are Holden High School, ranked No. 13; Live Oak High School, listed at No. 15; and Springfield High School, which earned the No. 25 ranking.

The schools were ranked for their performance on state-required tests, graduation rates and how well they are preparing students for college.

“The highest ranked public schools in the 2023-2024 Best High Schools national rankings were those whose students achieved exceptional scores on state assessments for math, reading and science. These schools also had strong underserved student performance, college readiness and curriculum breadth, as well as graduation rates,” according to the U.S. News & World Report’s online announcement.

According to the report, Holden High earned a scorecard of 91.99, Live Oak High received a scorecard of 90.18 and Springfield High earned a scorecard of 84.71.

The remaining six high schools earned scorecards that ranked them in the state’s top 60 public schools.  Those scorecards and rankings were as following: Walker High School, No. 32 with an 81.42 scorecard; Albany High School, No. 35 with a scorecard of 80.61; Doyle High School, No. 47 with a 74.76 scorecard; Maurepas High School, No. 54 with a 69.81 scorecard; French Settlement High School, No. 55 with a 68.99 scorecard; and Denham Springs High School, No. 59 with a 67.82 scorecard.

TRACY MCRAE NAMED ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

LPPS Assistant Superintendent Tracy McRae

Director of Curriculum Tracy McRae has been named Assistant Superintendent for Livingston Parish Public Schools.

McRae fills the position vacated by newly appointed Superintendent Jody Purvis.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to working with Superintendent Purvis, along with all stakeholders in our school system, to provide the best for our students,” McRae said.  “I believe in setting high expectations and working collaboratively with others to reach those expectations.”

McRae has worked in the district’s central office since 2015, first as supervisor of instruction, through 2019, and then as director of curriculum.

McRae was a teacher, administrative assistant, assistant principal, and principal at Live Oak High School. During her tenure at that school, she led efforts to implement innovative programs that greatly advanced student academic performance. She received Livingston Parish Teacher of the Year in 2002, and twice earned Livingston Parish Principal of the Year in 2010 and 2015.

She is a 2014 recipient of the Colin Powell Service Award and a graduate of the Louisiana Superintendents Academy, 2021; and LSBA Level Up for Future Superintendents program, 2022.

McRae earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1986, a master’s degree in education from LSU in 1996, and a master’s plus-30 degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2003.

LIVE OAK PRINCIPAL NAMED NEW CURRICULUM DIRECTOR

LPPS Director of Curriculum Beth Jones

Live Oak High School Principal Beth Jones has been named the new director of curriculum for Livingston Parish Public Schools.

Jones fills the position vacated by Tracy McRae, who was recently named the district’s new assistant superintendent.

Jones has served as principal of Live Oak High School for nine years. During her tenure, the school has maintained a Grade A School Performance Score, earning the top score in the state amongst non-select enrollment schools.

She also served as assistant principal of Live Oak High School for 10 years, from 2005 to 2015, and taught Algebra and Calculus at the school for seven years, from 1998 to 2005.

“It is an honor to be named Director of Curriculum for Livingston Parish. I am committed to fostering an educational environment where innovation meets excellence, ensuring that every student’s learning journey is enriched and enhanced,” Jones said.

Jones is a current semi-finalist for the Louisiana Department of Education’s 2025 Principal of the Year award.

PURVIS SELECTED TO BE NEW SUPERINTENDENT

The Livingston Parish School Board on Monday, April 15, selected Jody Purvis to serve as the next superintendent of schools.

Purvis replaces Joe Murphy who is retiring at the end of June. Purvis started April 22 as Murphy announced he would take leave through the end of his contract on June 30.

“I’ve had experience in all grade levels from elementary all the way to the high school levels. I think that I have seen a lot and I do have some insight here. Hopefully, I can use that insight and develop a plan to move forward with our school system,” Purvis said.

Purvis said during his interview that his enthusiasm and motivation to act “will forge a strong, united team of educators and community partners motivated to further excel the educational opportunities for our students.”

Purvis has been with Livingston Parish Public Schools since 1998, beginning as a teacher at Springfield High and Denham Springs Freshman High before advancing to assistant principal at Southside Junior High and Springfield Middle. He served as principal at Springfield High and French Settlement Elementary before being appointed as the supervisor of high school instruction for the district in 2012. Purvis was named assistant superintendent in 2019.

Purvis earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in education from Southern University.

BOARD APPROVES RESTRUCTURING OF SALARY SCHEDULE

The Livingston Parish School Board recently approved a plan to adjust the district’s salary schedule to reflect recommendations made by a third-party consulting service.

LEAN Frog, a nationally recognized expert in providing operational and programmatic assessments of education organizations, recently conducted a Comprehensive Organizational Review and Compensation Review that provided recommendations on how the district could improve to be more in alignment with like-sized and top-performing school districts in the state.

The board agreed to adjust its pay schedule to represent more steps in pay increases and to better account for higher degree ranks among its employees.  Livingston Schools currently has 26 steps for its employees with only 18 pay increases built into those steps, whereas most peer pay schedules include 30 steps and provide for pay increases at all steps.

The new plan aligns and equalizes the district’s salary schedule in a 30-step structure, normalizes annual increases each year, standardizes values for advanced degree attainment and corrects indexing to accurately reflect salaries to establish a competitive range of salaries from starting pay to ending pay. The proposal also addresses those salaries that are more than 10% below their peers across all steps and degrees.

The changes, which will go into effect July 1, with the 2024-2025 fiscal year, reflect a $4.5 million increase in the district’s annual budget.

DISTRICT RECOGNIZES TOP PERFORMERS

School leaders with Livingston Parish Public Schools held a district-wide ceremony of celebration March 26 to honor those students, teachers, principals, and staff workers who have been recognized as top performers in their respective categories. At the same time, those schools receiving academic achievement awards from the Louisiana Department of Education were also recognized.

The top awards included the following:

Livingston Parish Students of the Year — Pictured from left to right are the 2024 Middle School Student of the Year Hudson Graham, Walker Junior High School; Superintendent Joe Murphy; 2024 Elementary School Student of the Year Kendall Vaughan, South Fork Elementary; Kendall is also the Louisiana District 6 finalist for Student of the Year; and 2024 High School Student of the Year Caszandra Dante, Walker High School.

Livingston Parish Teachers of the Year — Pictured from left to right are the 2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year Jessica Edwards, Southside Elementary; 2024 Middle School Teacher of the Year Amanda Brian, Denham Springs Junior High; Superintendent Joe Murphy; and 2024 High School Teacher of the Year Ann Harrison, Live Oak High School.

Livingston Parish New Teacher of the Year – Pictured are Superintendent Joe Murphy and 2024 New Teacher of the Year Winner Skyler Champlin, Springfield High School.

Livingston Parish Support Staff Worker of the Year – Pictured are Superintendent Joe Murphy and 2024 Support Staff Worker of the Year Ashley Guzzardo, North Corbin Junior High School.  Guzzardo is also a semifinalist for the Louisiana Staff Worker of the Year competition.

Livingston Parish Principals of the Year – Pictured left to right are the 2024 Middle School Principal of the Year David Clark, principal of Walker Junior High; 2024 Elementary School Principal of the Year Ginger Bishop, principal of Northside Elementary; Superintendent Joe Murphy; and 2024 High School Principal of the Year Beth Jones, principal of Live Oak High School. Jones is also a semifinalist for the Louisiana Principal of the Year competition.

CONSULTANTS RELEASE FINDINGS OF COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF DISTRICT

A comprehensive analysis of Livingston Parish Public Schools (LPPS) financial organization and salary structures shows, “unlike several peer school systems, LPPS has sound fiscal stewardship practices and is ‘living within its means.’”

Consultants with LEAN Frog, a national recognized expert in providing operational and programmatic assessments of educational organizations, presented the findings of its six-month-long study to the Livingston Parish School Board’s Cost Savings Committee on March 7, and a public presentation of the report on March 28 at the LPPS Suma Development Center.

The entire report is available upon request from LPPS and will be available through an electronic link on the district webpage at www.lpsb.org. A video copy of the public presentation is also available online.

The report showed pay for LPPS teachers ranks at the lowest, or next to the lowest, at all steps and degree levels when compared to their peers, according to the findings. In fact, pay for most positions in the district lags that of their peers by between 8% at starting pay and 14% at ending pay, including district and campus administrators, according to the analysis.

At the same time, the study shows the district lacks the number of high-level administrators needed to sufficiently service its many campuses for professional development, mentoring and individual support, which is crucial to each school’s success.

The study sought to identify potential cost-saving measures and provide school leaders will a possible roadmap to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the district’s organizational and compensation structures.

SCHOOL BOARD BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW SUPERINTENDENT

Superintendent Joe Murphy will retire at the end of his contract, which expires June 30, 2024.  Murphy is retiring with 32 years of service to Livingston Parish Schools.

The Livingston Parish School Board recently announced that it would begin its formal search for a new superintendent.

Superintendent Joe Murphy announced last fall that he would not be seeking a new contract upon the expiration of his current contract, which expires June 30, 2024.  Murphy has served as the system’s superintendent for the past five years and is retiring after 32 years of service.

Board President Steve Link said the district would begin the formal process of advertising in hopes of completing the process in the spring.

“This timeline will give our system time to transition between the administrations before the expiration of Mr. Murphy’s contract,” Board President Link said.

ALBANY SCHOOL BREAKS GROUND ON NEW CAFETERIA

Pictured from left to right are LPPS Business Manager Kim Stewart, Albany Fire Chief Joe Foster, Town of Albany Councilman John Thomas, Albany Lower Elementary Principal Robin Stewart, Albany Upper Elementary Principal Jo Jean Saucier, LPPS Supervisor of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis, Town of Albany Mayor Ilene Bates-McCarroll, Livingston Parish School Board President Steve Link, LPPS Assistant Superintendent Jody Purvis, LPPS Superintendent Joe Murphy, LPPS Maintenance Director Jerry Glascock, Architect Christ Bankston, Stuart Construction Director of Commercial Operations Blake Panepinto, Albany Police Chief Boyd Wild, and Stuart Construction Project Manager Jason Catlin.

School leaders held a ground breaking ceremony for a new cafeteria facility that will serve Albany Upper Elementary and Albany Lower Elementary students.

The dual cafeteria is designed to accommodate the two campuses independently, but it has an operable partition that will allow the space to be opened for large events, seating approximately 625 people.  The new addition will also include four new classrooms and dedicated restrooms for each school.

The two campuses currently operate a feeding schedule that runs from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. because the existing cafeteria lacks space to consolidate the times.

“Just like a kitchen is at the heart of a home, the cafeteria is the heart of a campus,” Supervisor of Child Nutrition Programs Sommer Purvis said. “This new facility will serve as a hub of activity for our students and for the community at large.”

School Board President Steve Link said the new facility is scheduled to completed by the end of Summer 2025.

STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR PLANNING TO PURSUE EDUCATION CAREERS

Livingston Parish Teacher Katie Guidry presents student Jazlynn Miles with a pin, recognizing participation in the district’s pre-educator program, which aims to encourage and equip high school students with knowledge about the field of education and those educational paths that are available to them. Also pictured, to the right, are district administrators Traci McRae and Tammy Kuhn.

More than 30 students from five Livingston Parish high schools recently attended a Pre-Educator Gala to learn more about pursuing a career in education and to be honored for their early commitment to the field.

The event was hosted at the Denham Springs STEM Center by the district as part of its “Grow Your Own” initiative. The theme of the night was “Mission: LIFT,” which stands for “Lead & Inspire Future Teachers.

The student-focused program is an important part of Launch Livingston, the district’s platform for recruiting and certifying teachers. Students interested in pursuing education careers were provided with information on the education field, as well as the Educators Rising course, which will be taught at five of the parish’s high schools next school year.

Career & Technical Education Coordinator Brandi Desselle said 13 students from Denham Springs High School and Live Oak High School were awarded pins and commended for taking the Educators Rising classes for the past two years. Other students participate in a “signing,” where they committed to continue the mission of pursuing education as a career.

Stacy Robinson

Stacy Robinson, District 2

• Appointed January 2024
• Former teacher and assistant principal at Live Oak High School; retired in June 2022
• Currently working part time in a family business
• Graduate of Live Oak High School
• Earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from LSU, alternative certification in education from Southeastern Louisiana University, and a master’s degree in education from Southeastern Louisiana University
• Married to Bryan Robinson for 46 years
• Mother to Meagan Stansbury, Denver Robinson, and Kaleb Robinson; Grandmother to Ainsley Stansbury, Andrew Stansbury (students at LOHS) and Eli Robinson (student at North Live Oak Elementary)
• Life-long member of Live Oak Church

“I can do all thing through Christ which strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13.

DISTRICT OFFERS FREE TELETHERAPY TO BENEFIT MENTAL HEALTH

The Livingston Parish School System is offering its high school students struggling with anxiety, depression, or any mental illness 12 weeks of free teletherapy through a program called Daybreak.

Federal Program Coordinator Charlene Lilly said Livingston Schools is the first school district in the state to offer free mental health support for students.

“There’s been some hurdles here for our kids that we’ve noticed and having some of our large high schools where we have 2,000 and four counselors, they’re inundated with mental health needs. So, this was kind of the solution to the perfect storm,” Lilly said.

Students can enroll by scanning a QR code or reaching out to their school counselors. Parental consent is required for Daybreak to connect students with a licensed counselor.

LOCAL SUPPORT WORKER NAMED STATE FINALIST

Ashley Guzzardo, State Finalist

North Corbin Junior High School (NCJH) Secretary Ashley Guzzardo is one of 10 school support workers who has been named a finalist for the state’s 2024 Outstanding School Support Employee Award.

The 10 finalists represent schools across the state in a wide range of professions.  Employees eligible for the annual honor serve students and families in roles such as teacher’s aide, bus driver, food service worker, clerical/secretarial worker, and custodian.

Guzzardo has worked as the NCJH school secretary for the past 12 years, where her duties include recording and monitoring student attendance, assisting with the needs and requests of students, parents, and campus visitors, assisting with student registrations, managing general office tasks, and serving as the Mighty Moms community food bank ambassador for her school.

SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES NEW ADDITION

School officials recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Springfield High School cafeteria and classroom addition. Those pictured, from left to right, are (front row) Former State Legislator Clay Schexnayder, School Administrator Spencer Harris, Assistant Superintendent Jody Purvis, Town of Springfield Mayor Tommy Abels, SHS Principal Jillian Dupuy, (back row) Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Glascock, Former School Board Member Norman Picou, School Board Member Ron McMorris, Assistant Superintendent Bruce Chaffin, Former Assistant Superintendent Stephen Parrill, and Superintendent Joe Murphy.

Livingston Parish school leaders recently celebrated the completion of a new cafeteria and classroom addition at Springfield High School.

The new two-story facility features a cafeteria that holds more than 200 people and four classrooms equipped with the latest technology and well-lit, modern accommodations. Part of the building space is also dedicated to the school’s on-campus merchandise shop, the Dawg House. The store is managed by the school’s entrepreneurship students who manage all aspects of the retail store, including purchasing, marketing, and retail.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION & PRE-K APPLICATION ASSISTANCE DAY SET FOR MARCH 15

Livingston Parish Public Schools will hold a district-wide Kindergarten Registration and Pre-K Application Assistance Day on March 15 for parents wishing to enroll their children in kindergarten or pre-kindergarten classes for the 2023-2024 school year.

Currently enrolled kindergarten and Pre-K students will NOT attend school that day.

Parents should access electronic registration forms in advance of March 15.  Parents of kindergarten-aged students should visit lpsb.org to complete the PowerSchool online registration form and upload required documents. The portal opens March 1.

Parents of pre-K-aged children should visit applytolppsearlychildhood.com to access the application form and upload required documents.

The documents required for both age groups include a certified birth certificate, Social Security card, immunization records, parent/guardian ID, and proof of residency (utility bills). Pre-K applicants must also provide proof of income for every adult in the household.

A child must have turned 5 years old on or before Sept. 30, 2024, to be eligible to register for kindergarten. A child must have turned 4 years old on or before Sept. 30, 2024, to be eligible for Pre-K. Final eligibility for Pre-K enrollment is based on the child’s age and gross household income.

Jeff Cox, District 6

• Elected in Oct 2002 and took office January 2003; has served more than 21 years
• Served as School Board Vice President, 2022-2023
• Graduate of Walker High School (Class of ’78)
• Owner of John’s Grocery & Hardware, which has been a family-owned business since 1972
• Certified in HVAC
• Married to Bonnie Hano Cox for 39 years
• Father to five children and four grandchildren. His children are Savannah Cox Lewis (Troy), who teaches at Live Oak High School; Derek Cox; Zachary Cox, who teaches at Walker High School; Brice Cox and Jace Cox, who is a freshman at Holden High School.
• The Cox Family attends First Pentecostal Church of Denham Springs

“Our job should always be about our children. If every vote we make is for the betterment for our students and our parish as a whole, then we will never go wrong. We can never lose sight of that.”

BOARD ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP, FILLS DISTRICT 2 VACANCY

The Livingston Parish School Board, at its Jan. 11 meeting, elected a new board president and vice president and appointed an interim board member to the district 2 board seat.

The board unanimously elected District 9 Board Member Steve Link of Albany as its president. Link is serving in his first term as a school board member.  He is a former teacher, assistant principal, and principal in the district.  Link holds a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) in Hammond, a master’s degree from Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., and a 30+ Education Certification from SLU.

The board also unanimously elected District 3 Board Member Jeff Frizell of Denham Springs as its Vice President. Frizell is in his first term as a board member. He is a former teacher, coach, school administrator and central office supervisor in the district. Frizell currently works as administrator of the Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic, which has offices in Denham Springs, Hammond, and Amite. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

Stacy Robinson, a former assistant principal at Live Oak High School, will serve as the board member for District 2, which represents the Live Oak School District.  Robinson fills the seat that was vacated by Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, who was elected State Representative for District 64 in the November 2023 general election. Robinson will occupy the seat until an election can be held to fill the seat. Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to call that election for November 5, 2024.

DISTRICT NAMES STUDENT OF THE YEAR WINNERS

Livingston Parish Public Schools has announced those top student winners for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Elementary Student of the Year is Kendall Marie Vaughan, a fifth grader at South Fork Elementary; the Middle School Student of the Year is Hudson Graham, an eighth grader at Walker Junior High School; and the High School Student of the Year is Caszandra Joy Dante, a senior at Walker High School.

The winners were nominated by their schools, and they competed against other Students of the Year from throughout the district.  As representatives for Livingston Parish Public Schools, they will compete at the state’s regional competition for the opportunity to become a finalist for the Louisiana Department of Education’s top award.

These students will be formally recognized at the district’s celebration of excellence gala in the spring.

TOP EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

Livingston Parish Public Schools has announced the winners of the district’s Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year and Staff Worker of the Year awards for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Principal of the Year winners are Elementary Principal of the Year Ginger Bishop, Northside Elementary School; Middle School Principal of the Year David Clark, Walker Junior High; and High School Principal of the Year Beth Jones, Live Oak High School.

North Corbin Junior High Secretary Ashely Guzzardo has been named the district’s 2023-2024 Support Worker of the Year.

Those Teacher of the Year winners are Elementary Teacher of the Year Jessica Edwards, Southside Elementary; Middle School Teacher of the Year Amanda Brian, Denham Springs Junior High; High School Teacher of the Year Anna Harrison, Live Oak High School; and New Teacher of the Year Skyler Champlin, Springfield High School.

The top winners for Livingston Parish Public Schools were selected from a long list of nominees submitted by each school in the district. They will advance to the state’s regional competition in their respective categories to vie for the opportunity to become a finalist for the Louisiana Department of Education’s top award.

The winners were given engraved awards, adorned with a decorative glass apple, as well as banners to display in their schools. They will be officially recognized at a district-wide celebration in the spring.

Cecil Harris, District 5

• Appointed to interim position in January 2020, elected twice without opposition (2020 special election, 2023 primary election);
• Served as LPPS Board President, 2022-2023;
• Former owner and manager of Pinnacle Education, an education publishing company; previously worked for several educational textbook and computer companies;
• Graduate of Denham Springs High School and DSHS Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee. He is the only three-sport first-team All-State athlete in the school’s history (basketball, baseball, and track);
• Holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La.;
• Four-year starter for the SLU Varsity Basketball Team;
• He taught and coached in LPPS District for three years before moving to a supervisor role with the Louisiana Department of Education’s Health and Physical Education division;
• Married to Margaret Devall Harris for 51 years;
• Father to three sons, Jeffrey, Jeromy, and Matthew, and eight grandchildren;
• The Harris Family are members of Hebron Baptist Church in Denham Springs.

“It continues to be my goal to provide the best resources possible to educate our children. That is the bottom line of this job.”

NATIONAL FIRM PERFORMING COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF DISTRICT’S ORGANIZATIONAL AND SALARY STRUCTURE

Livingston Parish Public Schools has contracted with LEAN Frog Business Solution, Inc., to perform an independent review of the district’s organizational structure and current salary schedule to gain greater direction in enhancing the district’s effectiveness, sustainability, and success at all levels.

The firm is expected to present a report on its assessments early next year.

LEAN Frog is a nationally recognized expert in providing operational and programmatic assessments of educational organizations. The firm’s professional team has collaborated with nearly 160 school districts across the Southeast United States, as well as state departments of education in Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

“This is a very tedious, painstaking task they are undertaking,” Superintendent Joe Murphy said. “The hired professionals are reviewing our system structure, they have interviewed our administrators and campus leaders for greater insight, and they are providing us with comparisons to our peer school systems.”

Murphy said the contract calls for LEAN Frog to review the district’s Central Office functions, analyze the district’s current salary schedules for positions, identify cost saving measures through improvements in organizational and operational efficacy, and provide a roadmap to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the district organizational and compensation structure.

SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL HOSTS AVID SHOWCASE

Springfield High School Principal Jillian Dupuy, standing far right, presents the successes of her school’s experience with the AVID program during a showcase sponsored by AVID in November.  Attending the presentation were school administrators and teachers from New Orleans charter schools and the Livingston, East Baton Rouge, and Jackson parish school systems.

School administrators and teachers from New Orleans charter schools and the Livingston, East Baton Rouge, and Jackson parish school systems visited Springfield High School in November to learn about its campus-wide AVID learning initiative.

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, and it is an in-school academic support program designed to instill those skills necessary for eligibility and success in higher education. The AVID Showcase at Springfield High School (SHS) is the first sponsored by the AVID program in Louisiana.

“This program is aimed at students who have the desire and willingness to work for academic success, but they may not have the skills they need to flourish scholastically. Many of the students who participate in AVID are from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education or they will be the first in their families to attend college,” SHS Principal Jillian Dupuy said.

Dupuy said the program targets those B/C students who have 2.0-3.5 GPAs who exhibit a willingness to achieve. They may be low-income and come from families that do not have a college background.

SHS first implemented an AVID elective course last school year for freshman. Those students were required to take at least one Advanced Placement or Honors Course during the year as part of the program.

“Our AVID students collectively improved their GPAs to an average of 3.51 by the end of the fall semester, and then they jumped to a 3.76 GPA average by the end of their freshman year,” Dupuy said.

The program was expanded this year to include a tenth-grade elective course. The school plans to add an eleventh-grade AVID elective class next year and another for twelfth-grade students by the 2025-2026 school year.

JUBAN PARC ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES DESIGNATION AS NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL

Juban Parc Elementary fifth graders, pictured left to right, Tatum Burns, Emma Kruszynsky, Thomas Ewing and Ezra Bourg carry the school’s Blue Ribbon banner during the school parade as parents, school leaders and community guests lined along the hallway.

Parents and school leaders enjoyed a festive environment at Juban Parc Elementary School on Nov. 30 as the school celebrated its designation as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Students and staff paraded through the school’s hallways, carrying banners, shakers, and balloons, and marching to a loud rhythmic beat provided by the Denham Springs High School drum line.

“This is a great day for our school community. It’s an opportunity to celebrate much hard work and accomplishment for our school,” said Juban Parc Elementary Principal Lauren Kennedy.

The Louisiana Department of Education lists Juban Parc Elementary as an “A-rated” school with a 94.7 School Performance Score, according to the state’s 2023 accountability report. At the same time, the state has given the school a Progress Index score of 106, which recognizes the school’s success in closing the achievement among all its students.

A total of 313 schools were honored this year nationwide. Juban Parc Elementary is one of nine schools in Louisiana named as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School.

Livingston Parish School leaders and administrators with Juban Parc Elementary School traveled to Washington D.C. earlier in November to attend a special National Blue Ribbon reception.

Jeff Frizell, District 3

• Newly elected to office, began serving in January 2023
• More than 20 years of experience in Livingston Parish Public Schools as a teacher, coach school administrator and central office supervisor
• Currently the Practice Administrator for the Bond-Wroten Eye Cinic, which has offices in Denham Springs, Hammond, and Amite
• Recipient of the 2015 Louisiana School of Executives Educational Leadership Award, the 2017 Livingston Parish Principal of the Year, and a 2017 Louisiana Principal of the Year semifinalist
• A graduate of Denham Springs High School who earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and master’s degree in education leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University
• Married to Amy Feucht Frizell, who teaches at Northside Elementary
• Father to Mallory (20), a graduate of Denham Springs High School and student at Southeastern Louisiana University, and Ava (15) a student at Denham Springs Freshman High School
• The Frizell Family attends Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs

“Never let the fear of striking out get in the your way.” -Babe Ruth