St. Tammany Parish School Board Packet Summary — August 13, 2026
Meeting Overview
The St. Tammany Parish School Board packet is for the board meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The agenda identifies the meeting location as the Brooks Educational Complex, 2544 Sergeant Alfred Dr., Slidell, LA 70458.
The packet includes agenda materials covering special recognitions, agenda items, consent agenda recommendations, human resources matters, financial compliance documents, policy materials, and supporting resolutions.
Key Items on the Agenda
General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026
The agenda includes consideration of a resolution approving acceptance of a bid for the purchase of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026, for St. Tammany Parish Wide School District No. 12.
The packet proposes acceptance of the bid from Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for $25,000,000 of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026. The supporting resolution materials describe eight submitted bids and list Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. with a true interest cost of 3.863399%.
The resolution materials describe a proposed payment structure including the $25,000,000 principal amount, a $1,340,925.00 bid premium, and a $250,000.00 credit for the good faith deposit. The packet states that the bid premium would be deposited into a construction fund for purposes of the bonds.
Special Recognitions
Communications Awards
The agenda includes special recognition of communications awards. The packet lists awards and recognitions from several organizations, including NSPRA Awards, Press Club of New Orleans Awards, and Telly Awards.
Recognized items include:
- Golden Achievement Award for “Recognition Days: Streamlining Celebrations for Greater Impact”
- Publications & Digital Media Awards for items including the eNewsletter, CTE Pathways Social Media Spotlight, Communications Snapshot Analytics Tracker, CTE Intern Banners, Abney Elementary SRO Excellence Award Video, “Rising from the Storm: 20 Years after Katrina Video,” Students with Exceptionalities Webpage, and Student Advisory Panel Webpage
- Press Club of New Orleans awards for “Rising from the Storm: 20 Years after Katrina Video” and the Folsom Junior High Custodian Paul McClain Support Employee of the Year Video
- Bronze Telly Award for “Rising from the Storm: 20 Years after Katrina Video”
Consent Agenda Items
The packet lists several items recommended for consideration under the consent agenda.
Administrative and Financial Items
The consent agenda includes:
- Approval of minutes from special meetings held July 9, 2026, and July 16, 2026
- Approval of minutes from the regular meeting held July 16, 2026
- A resolution facilitating conversion to SIMBLI
- Revision to the FY 2026-2027 salary schedule to include payment plans for state stipends of $2,000 for certificated employees and $1,000 for support employees
- A resolution approving the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the FY 2025-2026 audit
Capital Projects and Facility Items
The packet includes recommendations related to acceptance of projects as substantially complete, subject to architect recommendations, submission of regulatory requirements, and approval of Superintendent Jabbia.
Projects listed include:
- Covington Elementary School campus electrical and special systems refeed, STPSB Project No. 1918
- Little Oak Middle School new paved parking lot, STPSB Project No. 1957
- Lyon Elementary School drainage and paving improvements, STPSB Project No. 1932
- Covington High School asphalt paving, STPSB Project No. 1923
- Slidell High School termite damage repair, STPSB Project No. 1962
- Bonne Ecole Elementary School reroof, STPSB Project No. 1914
- Mandeville Elementary School asphalt mill and overlay, STPSB Project No. 1976
Policy and Governance Items
Board Management System Conversion
The packet includes a resolution related to conversion from BoardDocs to SIMBLI. The resolution materials describe SIMBLI as a board management software platform providing meeting and policy management tools for school boards.
The packet states that the proposed conversion would involve moving from BoardDocs to SIMBLI and directs administrative staff to engage SIMBLI to facilitate the conversion process.
Employee Drug and Alcohol Testing Policies
The consent agenda includes recommended revisions to:
- Policy GAMEB — Alcohol and Drug Testing Drivers
- Policy GAMD — Drug-Free Workplace
- Policy GAMEA — Alcohol and Drug Abuse Testing — General Employees
The policy materials address workplace drug and alcohol restrictions, testing procedures, safety-sensitive and security-sensitive positions, employee responsibilities, and potential disciplinary consequences for policy violations.
Human Resources Items
The packet includes retirement resolutions for certificated personnel and employee support services personnel subsequent to the July 16, 2026 meeting.
Listed certificated personnel include:
- Suzanne M. Ferrer, Boyet Junior High — 27.12 years, all in St. Tammany Parish
- Jodi P. O’Berry, Lyon Elementary — 21.00 years, all in St. Tammany Parish
Listed employee support services personnel include:
- Cathy M. Serpas, Central Office — 23.47 years, all in St. Tammany Parish
- Flora A. Dwyer, Tchefuncte Middle — 13.00 years, all in St. Tammany Parish
- Phyllis G. Galey, Transportation Center — 22.49 years, all in St. Tammany Parish
- Peter J. Lalanne, Transportation Center — 31.77 years, all in St. Tammany Parish
The Human Resources materials also include personnel changes, including employment, resignations, and leave without pay information effective after the July 16, 2026 meeting.
Financial Compliance Materials
The packet includes a resolution and supporting materials for the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the FY 2025-2026 audit.
The materials state that the questionnaire is required as part of the St. Tammany Parish School Board annual comprehensive financial report and compliance audit. The packet includes sections addressing public bid law, ethics compliance, budgeting, accounting, auditing, public records, meetings, debt restrictions, and school board regulatory requirements.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The agenda highlights several areas for board consideration:
- The proposed acceptance of the General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2026 bid
- Recommended consent agenda actions involving financial compliance, technology systems, salary schedule revisions, facility projects, and employee policies
- Retirement resolutions and other human resources matters
- Proposed policy revisions related to workplace drug and alcohol testing requirements
- Recognition of communications and media awards received by the school system
