District reports 16 teacher vacancies, schedules substitute training and expands sheriff partnership ahead of Aug. 8 school start

Interim Superintendent Rebecca Johnson told the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on Aug. 4 that the district faces 16 classroom teacher vacancies, eight of them in core subjects (English/language arts, math, science and social studies). She said the district had secured substitutes to cover 12 of the vacancies and would use master teachers and central-office curriculum staff to ensure classrooms are staffed if openings remained before Monday, Aug. 8, the first day of school.

Johnson said the district’s curriculum team would hold a substitute-teacher training covering classroom management, curriculum access, routines and procedures, student engagement strategies, dress code and professional conduct. "If we can not fill these 4 positions by the end of the day tomorrow or if new positions become vacant, we will utilize Master Teachers and/or Central Office Curriculum staff to ensure students have a teacher on the 1st day of school," the minutes record her saying.

On school safety, Johnson said Sheriff Mike Tregre and eight SWAT members met with district official Mr. Schaff; "the meeting was extremely productive," the minutes record Mr. Schaff saying. Outcomes described in the minutes include assignment of a SWAT team member to each school or program site to review school-safety audits, conduct campus walkthroughs with principals, advise crisis teams and review revised 2022–23 crisis plans. Johnson said crisis-plan in-servicing would take place before students arrive on Aug. 8.

The minutes document facilities checks: perimeter doors and locks were inspected with a list of doors requiring repair or replacement; intercom systems were functional except in isolated locations at four schools; and some camera systems only partially worked. The district described a phased camera-replacement schedule (John L. Ory; Laplace Elementary; West St. John Elementary; West St. John High; Garyville Magnet; Fifth Ward; East St. John Prep; Lake Pontchartrain Elementary; East St. John High; Central Office; Leon Godchaux; Emily C. Watkins). Johnson said an MOU with the Sheriff’s Office to allow camera access was expected to be finished by the following day and that law-enforcement radios would be enabled to work inside buildings via access to the district wireless network.

During new business, board member Debra Schum raised concerns about air-conditioning problems at East St. John High and West St. John Elementary; the board directed administration to ensure temporary air conditioning for Monday morning when students arrive. The board also received facility updates from The Luster Group on West St. John Elementary and was told Volkert is preparing estimated capital-project costs for an upcoming retreat.

The Superintendent closed the report by noting central-office staff would be on campus supporting school leaders on the first days of school. The meeting record shows the board approved related safety and readiness motions and directed administration to follow up on camera and door repairs prior to the start of classes.