Prior to 2012, the St. Helena Parish School Board operated with a millage of only 17.86 which generated approximately $990,484.53. The school facilities were in disrepair and the beginning teacher's salary was only $30,512.00. It had been over 20 years since a tax was passed for our schools and the Federal Court was threatening to impose a tax.

In 2012, the community supported the school district by passing a brand new tax. Because of your support, the beginning teacher's salary increased by $6,000.00, new facilities were built and existing buildings were renovated.

Since 2012, we have achieved major accomplishments. Some include earning District Accreditation, increasing our graduation rate, and closing access and opportunity gaps for our learners by expanding dual enrollment courses and upgrading technology. We applied for multiple grants to purchase much-needed items and eliminated our huge deficit.

Now, the St. Helena Parish School Board will have a crucial issue before us on Saturday, April 29th, with a new tax proposal on the election ballot parish-wide that will help us step into the future. This new proposal is essential to the overall long-term future of the children in the St. Helena Parish School District.

The major factors that impact the progress of our school district:

• High teacher turnover

• Lack of sustainable funding for academic programs

• School Safety

High Teacher Turnover - St. Helena Parish Schools have had slow, steady growth over time. A major factor that is preventing us from growing at a faster rate academically is our inability to attract and retain employees, specifically certified teachers. Over the past three years alone, we have lost over 66 teachers and hired over 102. This has led to inconsistent instruction for learners. We hope to become more competitive by increasing certified teacher pay by $6,000.00 and non-certified employee pay by $4,000.00. This will put our beginning teacher's salary at $47,000.00.

Lack of sustainable funding for academic programs - these programs are vital to the success of our learners and help close the access and opportunity gaps we face being a small, rural school community.

• Early Literacy - means helping children develop a rich vocabulary, self-expression, and reading comprehension—tools they need to become successful readers and lifelong learners. These skills allow a young child to enter kindergarten with a readiness to learn.

• Post-secondary opportunities - Dual enrollment allows high schoolers to get college credit early at little to no cost, saving them from paying for the class when they're actually in college.

• Technology - enables students to explore new subjects and deepen their understanding of difficult concepts, particularly in STEM. It also allows our learners to develop relevant skills for college or the workforce.

School Safety - impacts everyone. We are asking the community to invest in school safety so we can keep our kids protected during the school day and other school events. We need secure entry points on each campus. This includes the main entrances, interior and exterior doors, and perimeter fencing. Bus monitors and school resource officers will serve as another layer of protection against unwanted people who seek to cause harm to our children. School security systems (cybersecurity, cameras, and software) will serve as protection against online and real-time threats.

During the time you are acting in the capacity of a St. Helena Parish School Board employee, you are not allowed to advocate for or against a tax proposal, but you can provide factual information. If you are on your own time and acting as a private citizen, you can advocate in the manner you wish.

What does the law say about providing tax proposal information to the public?

Districts must provide information about the campaign in a neutral manner. Any publications distributed by the district must not promote a vote for or against the issue. It is the district’s job to educate voters with the facts. It is the right of citizens and advocacy groups to advocate for the renewal.

What may I tell parents at school when asked about the tax proposal?

You may provide information that is factual, such as what the proposal will accomplish and when the election will take place. You can also share any factual information that is provided by the district. You may not campaign to vote “yes” or “no” while working in your official capacity as an employee. You may campaign to vote “yes” or “no” when on your own time as a private citizen.

Can I distribute information about the proposal to parents?

Yes, you can distribute any district proposal materials or provide other factual information in many ways to parents. This includes but is not limited to monthly newsletters, school websites, parent conferences, etc.

Can I use my district email account to share information about the proposal?

District employees cannot use district email to campaign for the proposal, but you can provide factual information regarding the renewal using district email. If you wish to inform parents and the public regarding facts surrounding the proposal, the best source of information is what is available on the district web page.

Can I post or share information on my personal social media accounts regarding the proposal?

As long as the social media account is your private account, you may share information about the proposal and advocate in the manner you wish.

Should I avoid giving my opinion when I see a parent at the store?

No, as a private citizen, you can advocate outside of school time.

Can I ask my learners to tell their parents to vote “yes”?

No, that is considered advocacy while working in your official capacity as an employee.

We will begin virtual and face-to-face meetings to share information about the new tax proposal and answer any community questions or concerns.

Face-to-Face Meetings:

• April 17, 2023 - School Board Office, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Virtual Meeting Dates:

April 12, 19, and 24th at 6:00pm

April 12, 2023 at 6:00pm - Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PCexDdLZTAuwReL2i8_jgw

April 19, 2023 at 6:00pm - Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZHpNmHLgS7im94LSx3dYQQ

April 24, 2023 at 6:00pm - Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KdVnZPOTQF6_yQUyTYeA-g

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Individual Meetings

• To schedule a meeting with the superintendent to discuss the tax measure, please call 225-222-4349.

• 2022-2023 Salary Schedule - review the employee salaries across the school district.

• Legislative Auditor Maximum Millage Report by Parish - search engine for the millage rates for each parish in Louisiana.

• Blue Print to Excellence Strategic Plan - review our plan to improve academics in the school district.

• 2022-2023 Annual Report - see the many initiatives we have implemented to improve academic success for all of our learners.

• U.S. News and World Report - review recent demographic information about St. Helena Parish Schools

• Cutting the Budget in Three Years Podcast - listen to the interview with Superintendent Kelli Joseph about how the deficit was eliminated within three years.

• Position on State Accountability Proposal - read about our stance on the state's accountability proposal and how it would have impacted our school district.

• School Board - view our school board meetings and meeting minutes.