School board approves five-year cooperative agreement with LSU AgCenter including $13,414 annual local support

The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board on March 10 approved a five-year cooperative agreement with the LSU AgCenter that formalizes local support for Extension and 4‑H youth development programming.

Representatives from the AgCenter — parish chair Andre’ Brock and Dr. Gerald Keller — addressed the board before the vote. The agreement, effective March 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2026, outlines shared responsibilities for delivering research-based programming and procedures for billing and staffing. The School Board agreed to provide $13,414 annually to support local Cooperative Extension programming, which the agreement says is intended to supplement faculty and program delivery in agriculture and natural resources, 4‑H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and community economic development.

Board members described the long-standing relationship between parish schools and the Cooperative Extension Service. The agreement text references the Smith-Lever Act and sets expectations for reporting, supervision of faculty, and periodic review by the School Board superintendent and the AgCenter director.

The motion to approve the agreement carried on a roll call with 10 Yeas and 1 Absent (Jones). The agreement will be reviewed for renewal by the School Board superintendent and the LSU AgCenter at the end of the period specified in the contract.