School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – STPPS – July 9, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: St. Tammany Parish Public Schools
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: CAW Finance & Administrative Meetings - Jul 09 2026
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-09
• City: Covington
• County: St. Tammany
• State: louisiana
• Meeting Source URL: https://stpsb.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=484
• Meeting Listing URL: https://stpsb.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/
• Public Body Website: https://www.stpsb.org/our-district/school-board
• Meeting Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/live/g3zBCMNTHoE?si=acEpSS8nqa_n5Mc2
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/@STPPSchools/streams

What Community Members Should Know

The July 9, 2026 Committee as a Whole (Finance & Administrative) meeting centered on major capital construction, employee compensation, governance policies, and financial planning for the upcoming fiscal year. The committee approved multiple recommendations affecting facilities, labor agreements, and board operations while reviewing monthly financial and purchasing activity.

One of the largest themes was continued investment in school facilities. The committee recommended awarding more than $3.7 million in construction contracts covering classroom additions, campus improvements, athletic facilities, HVAC upgrades, and site work at schools across the parish. These projects are intended to expand capacity, improve student services, modernize infrastructure, and address facility needs.

The committee also advanced several important personnel and financial actions for FY 2026-2027, including approval of negotiated memorandums of understanding with the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and Support Employees, adoption of the district salary schedule, and a $500,000 Health and Welfare Fund contribution. These actions directly affect district employees and ongoing labor relations.

Governance and transparency were another major focus. Members approved a new policy governing the integrity of archived public meeting recordings and revised existing broadcasting policies to clarify how archived videos are labeled, preserved, and made available while protecting public records and legal requirements.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Major School Construction Program

The committee unanimously recommended awarding five major construction contracts covering projects throughout the district.

Approved recommendations included:

• Mandeville High School softball field lighting awarded to Preferred Electric, Inc. for $261,267.
• Northshore High School student services renovations awarded to Sieverding Construction, Inc. for $256,382.
• Fifth Ward Junior High additions awarded to E.C.O. Builders, Inc. for $1,385,000.
• Pine View Middle School site preparation, paving, modular relocation, infrastructure, and installation awarded to LA Contracting Enterprise, LLC for $1,142,343.
• Marigny Elementary replacement of fresh air units serving the 200 and 300 wings awarded to Rashad AC and Heating LLC for $674,000.

Collectively these projects represent continued investment in instructional space, campus infrastructure, HVAC reliability, and student services.

Employee Compensation Agreements

The committee considered negotiated agreements with the St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and Support Employees for FY 2026-2027.

The salary-related Memorandum of Understanding passed on a 9-1 vote, indicating some discussion among members while still receiving strong committee support. The district also unanimously adopted the FY 2026-2027 salary schedule, establishing compensation rates for the coming fiscal year.

These actions directly affect teachers, support staff, administrators, recruiting, retention, and district budgeting.

Health and Welfare Funding

The committee approved a separate Memorandum of Understanding concerning employee health and welfare funding.

Under the agreement, the school board will contribute $500,000 toward the Federation's Health and Welfare Plan for FY 2026-2027. The agreement also states that future contribution levels and participation terms will be negotiated annually before July 15 for each subsequent fiscal year.

Transparency of Public Meeting Recordings

Members approved a completely new policy focused on transparency and integrity of archived meeting recordings.

The proposed policy establishes that:

• Archived recordings must accurately reflect public meetings.
• Any edited or administratively processed recording must clearly identify itself as an archived recording or rebroadcast.
• Limited redactions may occur only for legally authorized reasons such as protecting confidential information, student privacy, court orders, or correcting technical issues.
• Changes may not alter discussion, votes, context, sequence, or official board actions.
• Any processing or redaction must be documented and reported publicly.

The proposal reinforces that official board actions remain reflected in approved meeting minutes while archived recordings remain an important transparency tool.

Revisions to Broadcasting Policy

The committee also revised Policy BCBJ governing broadcasting and recording of school board meetings.

Among the notable revisions:

• Archived YouTube or other digital recordings must include a disclaimer identifying them as archived rebroadcasts.
• Members of the public retain rights under Louisiana Public Records Law to request original recordings.
• The policy emphasizes broad public access while allowing administrative procedures necessary to preserve meeting decorum and comply with law.

Financial Reporting

Finance staff presented monthly financial statements covering April and May 2026 along with fund balance reports, grant reports, budget reports, and construction fund financial statements.

Although no significant financial concerns were highlighted within the accessible packet text, the reports provide the committee with ongoing oversight of general fund operations, grant activity, and parishwide construction spending as the district prepares the FY 2026-2027 budget.

Administrative Appointments

Superintendent Frank Jabbia announced several administrative appointments:

• April Rodriguez — Assistant Principal, Abney Elementary
• Phuong Normand — Assistant Principal, Cypress Cove Elementary
• Rebecca Cambre — Assistant Principal, Florida Avenue Elementary
• Kaci Puglia — Assistant Principal, Lyon Elementary
• Ben Strohl — Acting Principal, Lyon Elementary

These appointments support leadership transitions prior to the new school year.

Financial Matters

The packet contains several significant financial actions.

Major construction recommendations totaled approximately $3,718,992, including projects at Mandeville High School, Northshore High School, Fifth Ward Junior High, Pine View Middle School, and Marigny Elementary.

The committee approved a $500,000 FY 2026-2027 contribution to the Federation Health and Welfare Plan.

The FY 2026-2027 salary schedule and negotiated salary MOU were approved, although detailed salary amounts were contained in supporting documents rather than summarized in the accessible text.

Purchasing staff reported:

• Alarm Monitoring and POTS Line Replacement RFP awarded to Educational Electronics (Division of Sciens Building Solutions) and EverOn Solutions.
• Pending bids for bread products, food products, milk, Chromebook repair parts, and school food service supplies.
• Pending RFPs for generator maintenance services, crisis intervention services, and automated user account creation software.

Finance staff also reviewed April and May financial statements, grant reports, fund balances, budget reports, and parishwide construction fund reports in preparation for adoption of the FY 2026-2027 budget.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The committee approved:

• A new policy titled Transparency and Integrity of Public Meeting Recordings, establishing standards governing archived recordings, documentation of any authorized edits, and public access.
• Revisions to Policy BCBJ governing broadcasting and recording of school board meetings.
• Revisions to Policy DIC (Inventories) updating inventory management procedures, asset accountability, and tracking requirements.
• Revisions to Policy DJEG (School Purchase Orders) updating purchase order procedures for school purchasing activities.

These governance changes primarily strengthen financial controls, public transparency, and administrative procedures.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The committee received:

• Superintendent updates.
• Administrative updates.
• Monthly maintenance and custodial work order report.
• Construction report summarizing ongoing capital projects.
• Monthly financial reports for April and May.
• Purchasing report covering bids, RFPs, awards, and pending procurements.
• FY 2026-2027 budget calendar showing the schedule for public hearings and formal budget adoption.

The budget calendar outlines public review through August and September before state submission by September 30, 2026.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Five school leadership appointments were announced for elementary schools, including one acting principal assignment.

The committee also advanced negotiated labor agreements affecting teachers and support employees for FY 2026-2027, including salary matters and health and welfare funding.

No additional personnel actions, disciplinary matters, or organizational restructurings were identified within the accessible packet.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Facilities and operations represented one of the meeting's largest priorities.

Projects include:

• Athletic lighting improvements.
• Student services renovations.
• Classroom additions.
• Modular classroom relocation and infrastructure.
• HVAC fresh air unit replacement.
• Ongoing district construction oversight.
• Monthly maintenance and custodial operations.

These projects support both immediate operational needs and long-term district capacity.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

The meeting agenda included a standard public comment period allowing speakers three minutes.

The FY 2026-2027 budget calendar identifies several additional opportunities for public participation:

• Budget public hearing scheduled for August 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
• Public notice published prior to the hearing.
• Committee recommendation on the proposed budget scheduled for September 3, 2026.
• Final board adoption anticipated September 10, 2026.

Community Impact

Students and families should expect continued investment in school facilities, including expanded instructional space, improved HVAC systems, upgraded athletic facilities, and enhanced student service areas.

Employees are directly affected through adoption of labor agreements, salary schedules, and continued health and welfare funding.

Taxpayers benefit from formal oversight of nearly $3.7 million in recommended construction spending, monthly financial reporting, competitive purchasing, and revised financial control policies.

Residents interested in board transparency may notice clearer labeling of archived meeting recordings and stronger documentation requirements for any legally authorized edits.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How will the approved construction projects affect school operations during construction?
• What timeline is expected for completion of each capital project?
• What changes are included in the FY 2026-2027 salary schedule?
• How does the new recording policy improve transparency while protecting confidential information?
• What criteria determine when archived recordings may be edited or redacted?
• How will the $500,000 Health and Welfare contribution affect employee benefits?
• What major priorities will shape the FY 2026-2027 budget before adoption?
• Are additional school construction projects anticipated later this fiscal year?
• What outcomes are expected from the Northshore High student services renovation?
• How will district leadership monitor costs as construction projects proceed?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 16, 2026: Budget public hearing advertisement submitted to the official journal.
• August 5, 2026: Public hearing notice published.
• August 6, 2026: Proposed budgets distributed to board members.
• August 20, 2026: Public hearing on the FY 2026-2027 budget at 6:00 p.m.
• September 3, 2026: Finance and Administrative Committee recommendation on the proposed budget.
• September 10, 2026: Planned board adoption of the FY 2026-2027 budget.
• September 11, 2026: Certified budget copy retained.
• September 30, 2026: General Fund budget submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education.

Key Takeaways

• More than $3.7 million in construction projects advanced.
• Five campus improvement projects received unanimous committee approval.
• FY 2026-2027 salary schedule was approved.
• Salary MOU passed by a 9-1 vote.
• Health and Welfare MOU includes a $500,000 board contribution.
• New transparency policy establishes standards for archived meeting recordings.
• Broadcasting policy was updated to clarify archived video procedures.
• Inventory and purchase order policies were revised.
• Five new school administrators were announced.
• Budget development continues toward public hearing and September adoption.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://stpsb.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=484
• Meeting listing: https://stpsb.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/
• Public body website: https://www.stpsb.org/our-district/school-board
• Meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/live/g3zBCMNTHoE?si=acEpSS8nqa_n5Mc2
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/@STPPSchools/streams

About the Public Body

• Name: St. Tammany Parish Public Schools
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Covington, louisiana
• County: St. Tammany
• Provider: diligent-community

Keywords

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools, Committee as a Whole, Finance Committee, Administrative Committee, July 9 2026, Covington, Louisiana, school board, construction projects, Mandeville High School, Northshore High School, Fifth Ward Junior High, Pine View Middle School, Marigny Elementary, salary schedule, teacher agreement, health and welfare fund, transparency policy, meeting recordings, broadcasting policy, inventories policy, purchase orders, budget calendar, facilities, capital improvements, purchasing report, maintenance report, public meetings