SCHOOL LEADERS HOLD GROUNDBREAKING FOR STEM & ROBOTICS CENTER EXPANSION
Livingston Parish Public School leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially commence construction of a new classroom and administrative building at the Denham Springs High School STEM & Robotics Center. The new $2.4 million addition is projected to open next school year. Pictured, from left to right, are Steve McLin, McLin Construction; Jodie Wilson, LPPS Maintenance Supervisor; LPPS Assistant Superintendent Bruce Chaffin; Denham Springs School Board Member Cecil Harris; DSHS Principal Wes Howard; DSHS STEM & Robotics Center Director Mike Simmons; LPPS Superintendent Jody Purvis; Denham Springs School Board Members Jeff Frizell and Brad Harris; and Michael Buturla, Domain Architecture.
Livingston Parish Public School System leaders recently broke ground on a new classroom and administrative building at the Denham Springs High School’s STEM and Robotics Center to create additional learning space for a program that now serves 850 students.
Three new classrooms, a front administrative office, a small-group meeting room, storage and bathroom space will be part of the $2.4 million addition to the campus. The new classrooms will house engineering and robotics classes that are currently being taught in the facility’s large gymnasium space, as well as a new process technology program that will be aligned with the job requirement needs of local chemical plant operators.
“It’s important that we continue to invest in learning opportunities that give our students direct access to high-paying jobs and career opportunities in today’s changing world,” Denham Springs School Board Member Cecil Harris said.
Construction on the project will be completed in summer 2027, with the facility opening for the 2027-28 school year.
DSHS OPENS NEW FIELD HOUSE
The new DSHS field house features 5,000-square-feet of state-of-the art facilities for the school’s student athletes and coaching staff.
Denham Springs High School officially opened its new $6.7 million field house with a ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to the football team’s first home game of the season on Sept. 4.
The new two-story 5,000-square-foot facility includes a weight room, team room, locker room, equipment storage, treatment rooms, and coaches’ office area that overlooks the weight room. The facility also includes an indoor and outdoor suite on the second floor, and each offers box seats.
The new facility is part of a multi-phased athletic facility improvement plan that has been underway at DSHS campus since 2021.
Voters approved an extension of an existing 8.64-mill property tax in April 2021 to pay for the upgrades that included the repositioning, resurfacing and realignment of the football and soccer field, the construction of new baseball and softball complexes on the campus, a new track and field facility and practice area for the marching band, and the refurbishment of the old field house to create space for male and female athletes. Since that time, the millage has been lowered to 7.64 mills.
FOUR PARISH HIGH SCHOOLS HONORED FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
Four Livingston Parish High Schools have been honored for their exemplary efforts in workforce development by the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance (GBRIA), which was established nearly 20 years ago to promote innovative solutions to local industry issues.
Live Oak High School was given an Excellence Award, Doyle High School received an Award of Merit, and Albany High School and Walker High School both received Recognition Awards.
Live Oak High School was nominated by Performance Contractors, Cajun Industries, and ISC Constructors, LLC; Doyle High School was nominated by Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC; Albany High School was nominated by EXCEL Group; and Walker High School was nominated by Performance Contractors, Cajun Industries, and ISC Constructors, LLC.
Each school offers craft Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that teach students hands-on, practical skills for specific jobs and future careers. The recognized programs may include traditional CTE pathways, pre-engineering and PTEC programs. The school programs are evaluated by GBRIA through an application process and in-person presentations.
DSJH TEACHER NAMED TO STATEWIDE ADVISORY COUNCIL
Brianne Loupe
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) recently announced that Brianne Loupe, a Denham Springs Junior High teacher, will be among the 14 educators who have been selected to serve a four-year term on the Teachers Advisory Council, beginning with this school year.
State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley created the Teachers Advisory Council in response to Senate Concurrent Resolution 33 (2022) to enhance the teacher’s voice and gather educator feedback on current education initiatives and how Louisiana can continue to improve student outcomes.
The council meets with state leaders on a quarterly basis to discuss issues, laws, rules, and policies affecting teachers and students. The council has provided feedback on topics including Let Teachers Teach, math, literacy, attendance, accountability, and teacher recruitment.