Progress continues in the St. Tammany School Board as they lower the number of students unable to graduate due to the Graduate Exit Exam from six last year to five this year.

“Our goal is to have everyone pass the GEE,” said St. Tammany School Superintendent Gayle Sloan. Although it’s unfortunate, Sloan said that the school system tries to maintain a close alignment between coursework and the GEE.

Overall, Sloan said the school year has been stable and profitable with many of the projects set by the 2008 bond issue in technology and security already implemented. Sloan said that technology has become an integral part of the classroom and in St. Tammany the schools have been fortunate with the passage of the 2008 bond to upgrade and implement technology as tools of learning in the classroom.

The security initiative has had some unexpected benefits, she said. As well as acting as a deterrent and to solve disciplinary mysteries, the cameras have allowed for positive behavior reinforcement.

In one instance, two students were geared for a fight when a third student intervened to talk them out of the fight. Teachers and the principals were able to reward the student for attempting to settle the disagreement.

Other instances have shown students performing kind or helpful acts for students, teachers and visitors, going out of their way to show simple courtesy. The security cameras have allowed for those students to also receive the appreciation they deserve.

As far as the effect of the cameras, administrators are finding that instead of teachers spending needed time trying to ascertain who did what to whom and when, a simple roll of the video reveals how events transpire, saving them time needed for the classroom.

Sloan is very excited about Lakeshore High School. “It’s a first class site. The extra space available in the school is going to allow us to implement learning park initiatives this coming year,” she said.

Programs such as CISCO programming, the study of dance, advanced broadcasting and sculpture programs are all high-end advanced opportunities planned for the learning park. With the available space at Lakeshore, the school system won’t have to wait to implement the programs.

The opportunity will also allow for the school system to see how the programs work and if they should be continued once the learning park is built.

In addition, the exit for Louisiana Highway 1088 from U. S. Interstate 12 is once again on track and should begin this summer, although completion will not be for many months. It has been made a priority by the legislature and although sales tax revenue is down, there has been some belt tightening that will allow for the construction to begin.

In fiscal matters, things are going well, despite the drop in sales tax revenue. The school system is going to receive stimulus money and already has plans for the funds, including participation in a new national program entitled Race for the Top.

Race for the Top will include career and technical education, intervention programs drop out prevention and better programs for special needs students. The stimulus money will allow the school system to try strategies that have been successful elsewhere to see if they will work in our area.

Sloan also wants to implement a teacher advancement program that will tie incentive pay with student performance. The program has seen good results elsewhere and she is excited about the possibilities in St. Tammany.

“We would not have the money to do any of these without the stimulus package,” said Sloan.

Among the other possibilities are graduation coaches and facilitators for online education, both part-time positions.

In going forward with the 2008 bond issue funded construction projects, Sloan said that the school system is helping the economy in the local community.

Although fiscally the system is having its share of challenges, including rising health care costs, “we are fortunate that the local community values education,” said Sloan.

Some non-classroom positions are not being filled and there is belt-tightening, but the rise in the MFP, or amount the school system received per pupil from the state, is rising. As other parishes are losing student populations, St. Tammany is gaining, she said.

“We have high expectations from the community regarding public education in St. Tammany Parish,” she said.