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

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

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

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.