NEW ALBANY ELEMENTARY CAFETERIA AND CLASSROOM BUILDING OPENS

Livingston Parish School Board President Steve Link cut the ceremonial ribbon for the new cafeteria and classroom building at the Albany Elementary campus. The news facility accommodates the Upper Elementary and Lower Elementary sections of the campus. Pictured from left to right, are: (back row) Chris Bankston, architect, GGB Architects; Michelle Wilson Juneau, interior designer, GGB Architects; Patricia Mayeux, assistant principal, Albany Upper Elementary; Monica Perez, director of architectural production, GGB Architects; Devin Gregoire, Ph.D., former school board member; Bruce Chaffin, assistant superintendent; Melyssa DePaula, principal, Albany Upper Elementary; Jerry Glascock, maintenance supervisor; Jodie Wilson, maintenance supervisor; (front row) Lynsey Frechette, cafeteria technician; Fay Anthony, cafeteria technician; Rachell Moriarity, cafeteria technician; Tandra Arbour, cafeteria technician; Robin Stewart, principal, Albany Lower Elementary; Cam Mikel, student, Albany Lower Elementary; Chief Mikel, student, Albany Lower Elementary; Jody Purvis, superintendent; Sommer Purvis, supervisor of Child Nutrition Programs; Sandra Caldwel, cafeteria technician; Steve Link, school board member; Crystal Stewart, cafeteria manager; Jodie Clark, cafeteria technician; and Laura Litolff, assistant principal, Albany Lower Elementary.)

Livingston Parish school leaders held a ribbon cutting ceremony this month to commemorate the opening of the new Albany Elementary cafeteria and classroom building.

The new cafeteria is designed to independently accommodate the Albany Upper Elementary and Albany Lower Elementary campuses while offering an operable partition that can enlarge the space for large events, seating as many as 625 people.  The new facility also includes four classrooms and dedicated restrooms for each school.

The new facility offers an increased seating capacity of 160 seats, more than 7,600 extra square footage of space, and four daily serving lines, which is up from two in the old facility. The kitchen is equipped with four combi ovens, a double stacked convection oven and two 40-gallon tilt skillets. The combined amenities will reduce serving time by more than an hour each day.

“We want to thank the Albany community for supporting the funding associated with this expansion,” said Superintendent Jody Purvis, noting that local voters in 2022 dedicated a half-cent sales tax on purchases made in the Albany School Tax District to pay for the construction costs of the new facility.

TALENTED THEATRE AND MUSIC STUDENTS ANNOUNCE PERFORMANCES

The Livingston Parish Gifted and Talented Theatre and Music students will perform their renditions of Disney’s “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “The Little Mermaid” in multiple shows in March.

Students will perform “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at Old Zion Hill Baptist Church at 25890 La. Highway 442 in Albany, March 12-13. The performances will be at 10 a.m. both days. For ticket information contact Melani Glascock via email at melani.glascock@lpsb.org. School Field Trip reservation form can be found here. Tickets are $15 and purchase includes lunch and snack packs.

The performance of “The Little Mermaid” will be held at First Baptist Church of Denham Springs, located 27735 La. Highway 16 in Denham Springs, March 19-21.

Performances of “The Little Mermaid” are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19; 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20; and 10 a.m. only on Saturday, March 21. Tickets for the evening performances and Saturday matinee can be purchased by visiting https://linktr.ee/Corey_Salt_TAP_Theatre?utm_source=qr_code. Tickets are required for all guests and are nonrefundable.

There will be an “Under The Sea” Breakfast at 9 a.m. March 21 at First Baptist Church of Denham Springs, followed by a meet-and-greet with the “The Little Mermaid” cast members.

BOARD MEMBERS EARN LSBA CERTIFICATION

Pictured with their LSBA certification, from left to right, are Dr. Ron McMorris, Steve Link and Brad Sharp. Not pictured is Bob Seals.

Livingston Parish School Board Members Dr. Ron McMorris, Steve Link, Brad Sharp and

Bob Seals earned certification in 2025 with the Louisiana School Board Association.

The Louisiana School Board Association has in place a voluntary program whereby a member is recognized for attaining a certain number of continuing learning units during a calendar year.

This Program is strictly voluntary and not part of the law regarding school board member training. Any school board member that voluntarily earns twenty (20) or more LSBA approved training hours during a calendar year is recognized for their efforts as a certified board member at the LSBA Annual State Convention