The July 16, 2026 meeting focused primarily on approving major capital improvement projects, updating district governance policies, revising operational procedures, and recognizing employee service. The board unanimously approved its consent agenda, authorizing more than $3.7 million in construction and facilities contracts while also adopting several policy and personnel changes.
Facilities investment represented the largest financial commitment. Projects include new additions at Fifth Ward Junior High, infrastructure work at Pine View Middle School, HVAC improvements at Marigny Elementary, lighting upgrades for Mandeville High School's softball field, and improvements to the student services entrance at Northshore High School. These projects are intended to improve school infrastructure, student access, athletic facilities, and building systems.
The board also adopted several governance policies emphasizing financial controls, inventory management, purchasing procedures, and public transparency. Particularly notable were revisions governing the recording of board meetings and a new policy establishing standards for archived meeting recordings, documentation of any authorized edits, and preservation of original recordings as public records.
Personnel matters included the announcement of a new assistant principal appointment, approval of updated job descriptions for custodians and Students with Exceptionalities (SWE) Aide II positions, and retirement resolutions honoring numerous certificated and support employees with decades of service. The only executive session item—a student placement compliance review hearing—was ultimately removed after the parent withdrew the appeal.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Capital Improvement Program
The board approved five competitive construction contracts totaling approximately $3,718,992. These projects address classroom capacity, campus infrastructure, mechanical systems, accessibility, and athletic facilities across multiple schools.
The largest project is a $1,385,000 contract with E.C.O. Builders, Inc. for additions at Fifth Ward Junior High. Another major investment is the $1,142,343 contract awarded to LA Contracting Enterprise, LLC for site clearing, paving, modular building relocation, utility infrastructure, and related improvements at Pine View Middle School.
Additional approved projects include softball field lighting at Mandeville High School, renovations to the student services entrance at Northshore High School, and replacement of fresh-air HVAC units serving portions of Marigny Elementary School.
Public Meeting Transparency Policies
The board adopted revisions to its policy governing broadcasting and recording meetings and approved a new policy specifically addressing transparency and integrity of archived public meeting recordings.
The new policy requires archived recordings that differ from the original live broadcast to be clearly identified as archived or rebroadcast versions. It also requires public notice that original recordings remain available under Louisiana Public Records Law.
The policy further limits administrative editing to legally authorized purposes such as protecting confidential information, complying with court orders, correcting technical problems, or removing legally inappropriate material. Any authorized processing must be documented and reported publicly at the next regular board meeting.
Financial Controls and Purchasing
The board revised purchasing procedures requiring School Board purchase orders for school purchases of $10,000 or more, except where specific activity-fund guidelines apply.
The revisions reinforce standardized purchasing practices, vendor-specific purchase orders, and compliance with Louisiana procurement statutes. The policy is intended to strengthen fiscal accountability while maintaining flexibility for smaller school-level purchases.
Inventory Management
Updated inventory procedures strengthen accountability for district assets.
The revised policy requires detailed records for capital assets valued at $10,000 or more, annual building-level inventories, biennial districtwide fixed asset inventories by the Finance Department, procedures for grant-funded property, and inventory tracking for significant intangible assets such as software and legal rights.
School principals remain responsible for inventory accuracy within their buildings, while employees who maintain custody of district assets are responsible for safeguarding assigned equipment.
Personnel Updates
Superintendent Frank Jabbia announced the appointment of Summer Holiday as Assistant Principal at Lee Road Junior High School.
The board also approved updated job descriptions for custodians and Students with Exceptionalities Aide II employees. The revisions modernize physical requirements, clarify responsibilities, and better align job expectations with current operational and student-support needs.
Employee Retirements
The board approved retirement resolutions honoring both certificated employees and employee support services staff.
Several educators recognized have served more than three decades, with some approaching or exceeding forty years in education. These retirements represent substantial institutional experience across curriculum centers, elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, pupil appraisal services, maintenance, transportation, and central administration.
Financial Matters
The most significant financial actions involved construction contracts totaling approximately $3,718,992.
Approved contracts include:
- $1,385,000 to E.C.O. Builders, Inc. for additions at Fifth Ward Junior High School.
- $1,142,343 to LA Contracting Enterprise, LLC for Pine View Middle School site work, modular building relocation, paving, and infrastructure improvements.
- $674,000 to Rashad AC and Heating LLC for replacement of fresh-air units serving the 200 and 300 wings at Marigny Elementary School.
- $261,267 to Preferred Electric, Inc. for softball field lighting at Mandeville High School.
- $256,382 to Sieverding Construction, Inc. for administration entrance and student services alterations at Northshore High School.
Although specific funding sources were not identified in the packet, these projects represent significant capital investments in educational facilities and infrastructure.
The revised purchasing policy also establishes continued use of purchase orders for school purchases of $10,000 or more to strengthen financial oversight.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The meeting included several governance updates.
The inventory policy expands guidance on managing capital assets, grant-funded equipment, intangible assets, and textbook inventories while clarifying responsibilities for annual inventory verification.
The revised purchasing policy standardizes purchasing procedures and reinforces internal financial controls.
The revised broadcasting policy formalizes continued recording and public availability of regular board meetings and Committee as a Whole meetings while recognizing public rights under Louisiana Public Records Law.
The newly adopted Transparency and Integrity of Public Meeting Recordings policy establishes procedures governing archived recordings, permissible administrative processing, documentation requirements, public reporting of authorized changes, and preservation of original recordings.
Retirement resolutions were adopted for certificated and employee support personnel recognizing years of public service.
The Superintendent provided an update during the meeting and announced an administrative appointment.
No lengthy departmental reports, audits, or consultant presentations were included among the substantive agenda items. Instead, the meeting concentrated on operational approvals, construction contracts, personnel actions, and governance policy revisions.
The board also reviewed previous meeting minutes before approving them as part of the consent agenda.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Summer Holiday was announced as the new Assistant Principal at Lee Road Junior High School.
Updated job descriptions were approved for Custodian and Students with Exceptionalities Aide II positions. The revisions clarify qualifications, duties, physical demands, supervision, safety expectations, and responsibilities for supporting students and maintaining district facilities.
The board approved retirement resolutions for numerous certificated educators and employee support personnel representing hundreds of cumulative years of public service throughout the district.
All retirement resolutions were approved unanimously.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
The board authorized multiple projects affecting schools throughout the parish.
Fifth Ward Junior High will receive building additions intended to expand or improve facilities.
Pine View Middle School will undergo significant site preparation, paving, modular building relocation, and infrastructure improvements.
Marigny Elementary School will receive replacement fresh-air HVAC units serving portions of the campus, improving ventilation and building systems.
Northshore High School will receive improvements to its administration entrance and student services area.
Mandeville High School's softball field will receive upgraded lighting infrastructure supporting athletic programs.
Collectively, these projects represent continued investment in educational facilities, student services, campus safety, and operational reliability.
The meeting included a standard public comment period allowing speakers three minutes each.
An executive session had been scheduled for a student placement compliance review hearing. However, according to the meeting minutes, the parent withdrew the appeal and the matter was removed from consideration.
No additional public hearings or future public input opportunities were identified within the packet.
Students and families may benefit from improved instructional facilities, better campus infrastructure, upgraded ventilation systems, safer athletic facilities, and enhanced student services spaces.
District employees receive updated job descriptions that more clearly define expectations, qualifications, and physical responsibilities.
Taxpayers may view the new transparency policies as strengthening public confidence through clearer standards governing meeting recordings and documentation of any authorized edits.
School administrators and finance staff will operate under updated purchasing and inventory procedures intended to improve accountability for public resources.
Communities surrounding the affected campuses may experience construction activity as the approved capital improvement projects proceed.
- What is the anticipated construction schedule for each approved facilities project?
- How are the five capital projects being funded?
- Will construction affect school operations or student access during the school year?
- How will the district document and report any authorized edits to archived meeting recordings?
- What safeguards ensure original meeting recordings remain publicly available?
- What measurable improvements are expected from the Marigny Elementary HVAC project?
- How will the Fifth Ward Junior High additions address current or future enrollment needs?
- What prompted revisions to the custodian and SWE Aide II job descriptions?
- How frequently will districtwide fixed asset inventories be audited?
- What additional capital improvement projects are expected later in the fiscal year?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 16, 2026: Board approved all consent agenda items unanimously.
- Following board approval: Construction contracts may proceed through execution and project implementation.
- Next regular board meeting: Any authorized administrative processing or redactions of archived recordings must be reported if applicable under the newly adopted policy.
- Annually: Schools will conduct building-level physical inventories.
- Every two years: The Finance Department will conduct a districtwide fixed asset inventory as required by policy.
- End of each school year: Schools are expected to reconcile and remit payments collected for lost or damaged textbooks.
Key Takeaways
- The board unanimously approved more than $3.7 million in capital improvement contracts.
- Fifth Ward Junior High received the largest approved construction project at $1.385 million.
- Pine View Middle School will receive more than $1.14 million in infrastructure improvements.
- New transparency policies establish rules governing archived meeting recordings.
- Purchasing procedures continue requiring purchase orders for school purchases of $10,000 or more.
- Inventory policies strengthen accountability for district property and equipment.
- Summer Holiday was announced as Assistant Principal at Lee Road Junior High.
- Updated job descriptions were approved for custodians and SWE Aide II employees.
- Numerous educators and support employees were recognized through retirement resolutions.
- The scheduled executive session item was removed after the parent withdrew the appeal.
- All consent agenda items passed unanimously, 13-0.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:37 p.m.
Official Sources
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, school board, Board Meeting Jul 16 2026, Covington, Louisiana, Fifth Ward Junior High, Pine View Middle School, Marigny Elementary School, Mandeville High School, Northshore High School, capital projects, construction contracts, HVAC replacement, softball field lighting, purchase orders, inventory policy, public meeting recordings, transparency policy, archived recordings, Superintendent Jabbia, Summer Holiday, assistant principal, retirements, facilities improvements, school governance, public records, employee support services, Students with Exceptionalities, custodians
