The St. Tammany Parish School Board committee as a whole accepted a recommendation to forgo advertising a public meeting to consider rolling forward millage rates, signaling the board will accept the rolled-back millage rate for ad valorem tax revenue for the coming year.

The millage rollback means taxpayers will not have an increase in taxes dedicated to the School Board this year, despite an increase in property valuations from the 2008 reassessment of property by the parish tax assessor. According to School System Superintendent Gayle Sloan, the decision is to hold revenue collections stable and review the impact of the millage reduction during the next fiscal year.

Since this is a reassessment year for property owners parishwide, many values will increase. Sloan said the financial situation of the school system is stable due to controls on health care expenses, energy consumption and other fiscally sound measures instituted by the school system. The committee also endorsed a proposal by Superintendent Gayle Sloan to begin a preservation project of artifacts of parish schools and the creation of a preservation plaza paved with bricks commemorating educators and employees of the school system.

The circular plaza would be located on the Jefferson Avenue side of the Schoen Administrative Complex. The flagpole will be at the center of the formal plaza with pavers surrounding it in a circular pattern, up to 32 feet. The design includes benches and seating areas and will utilize the sidewalks already in place. The formal plaza design will enhance the complex’s architectural design and façade of the old Schoen school building.

Opportunities for PTAs and other groups or families to honor retiring employees will be available for $75 per brick. A Web site link will list the names of the honored retired and deceased employees. Only one paver or brick will honor an employer to avoid duplication. Kirin Wheldon with the architectural firm of Fauntleroy & Latham has donated services to provide architectural plans for the plaza.

The committee approved the recommendations authorizing the purchase three pieces of property, including the last available parcel adjacent to Mandeville High School. Properties include 11.56 acres next to Mandeville High; a small lot across from Brock Elementary in Slidell that will be used as a playground; and the purchase of 13 acres of property in Madisonville for the construction of the new elementary school.

The committee also recommended acceptance of the following construction projects as substantially complete subject to the architect’s recommendations, submission of all regulatory requirements and approval of Sloan:

• Renovation of classroom wings to Slidell High School.

• Renovations and additions to library and administration at Slidell High School.

• Library at Covington Elementary.

• Turning lanes at Little Pearl Elementary School; it was also reported that the school itself will not be complete by the beginning of the school year, but in early fall.

• New portables and site work at Madisonville Elementary School.

• Auditorium repairs to Slidell High School.

• Football stadium waterproofing at Covington High School.

• Drainage improvements at Slidell High School.

The committee also accepted the recommendation of the screening and evaluation committee for assignment of type I-A, I-B, II-A/II-B technical services and project constractors.

The committee also recommended acceptance of the annual uniform evaluation report and the monthly reports for construction, maintenance and custodial, risk management, transportation and purchasing.

The 2008-2009 salary schedules were also accepted and will posted on the School Board’s Web site at www.stpsb.org.