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S T TA M M A N Y FA R M E R.N E T
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W e d n e s d ay, M ay 27, 2026
152ND YEAR, NO. 33
50¢N
School system tackles Amendment 3’s failure
Officials regroup to make deal with local federation after measure voted down BY JIM DERRY
Contributing writer The St. Tammany Parish school system took a hit May 16 after the failure of a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have given the state’s teachers a pay raise, but the parish’s largest employer is working to regroup
and finish a deal with the local federation before its contract runs out June 30. The system’s superintendent, Frank Jabbia, said during the school board’s May 21 meeting that they were “thrown a little bit of a curveball” by the rejection of Amendment 3, but that he’s confident an answer will be found.
The 13 of 15 St. Tammany Parish School Board members present and Jabbia went into executive session after its two-hour monthly meeting “to conduct a strategy session with respect to collective bargaining.” Had the amendment passed, there would have been an adjustment of $47 per student in the Minimum Foundation Program,
nice progress with the nonfinancial issue,” Jabbia said. “We’re taking a which is the formula that sets real hard look at funding for each school district what we can do to across the state. That totals about use the funds we $1.6 million, according to Jabbia, have to do what we and there’s another $1 million or Jabbia need to do and help so STPSB lost because of the vote. He says he remains confident a all of our employees and to work with the federation. deal will get done. “We’re happy with the progress, ä See AMENDMENT, page 3A and we have made some really
Hey, Hey! The grads are all here!
Andrew Canulette ANDREW’S ANGLE
Closed primaries and party politics May 16 election was wrong for so many reasons
Before I registered to vote, way back when Bush 41 was president, my father gave me some advice. To paraphrase just a bit, he said “Make sure you join a major political party. If you choose the Ambidextrous People’s Liberation Party, you might have trouble getting a job one day.” I chuckle now, but he likely was right, at least in “Summer of ’91” terms. And, yeah, I’m quite sure I was considering just about anything but mainstream back then, but someone, after all, had to stand up for those of us who can eat with either hand. Imagine my surprise when a few months later, I stared down a ballot offering me either Edwin Edwards or David Duke as Louisiana’s next governor. There might have been 20 gubernatorial hopefuls on Louisiana’s open primary ballot that year, but when we got to the general election a month or so later, a majority of people had decided our next governor should be either a Democrat people openly referred to as “The Crook” or a Republican who was former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Safe to say 18-year-old idealistic Andy was appalled. I certainly didn’t shout “Vote for The Crook! It’s important!” But I did pull the lever for EWE and, you know what? I’ve been a bit disappointed by politics, in general, ever since that November. Not that Duke was by any means more palatable. But the lesson learned was this — “Get
ä See CANULETTE, page 3A
PHOTO BY HERB GOMEZ
Mid-May is graduation season in St. Tammany Parish as a few thousand recent high school graduates, and their proud families, can attest. ABOVE: St. Paul’s graduates create a blur of blue as they toss a few hundred mortar boards into the a clear blue sky in Covington on May 16. RIGHT: Salmen High Spartan Esabella Geneva Acosta feels the victory of commencement on May 20. ä More on Pages 2A, 7A and 8A.
PHOTO BY FRANK L. AYMAMI III
Celebrating summer in St. Tammany Parish BY JESSICA SAGGIO
trying to stay cool. Summer is jam-packed with events and activities here on the northshore, As the old song goes, “Summer- and residents have their pick of how to stay busy in spit of sometime and the livin’ is easy.” Well, that is, unless you live in times brutal Gulf South heat. a state with 80% humidity and 90-some-degree heat each year. Scheduled events In that case, it should be reSisters of Royalty Crawfish Cook-off: May phrased, “Summertime and the 30 Venture down to Pearl River livin’ is sweaty.” But that certainly doesn’t stop for the inaugural all-you-can-eat Louisianans from having a good crawfish cook-off hosted by the time, eating their hearts out and Sisters of Royalty girls’ organizaContributing writer
SAVE $ 22 1
waters of Bayou Liberty, just outside Slidell. The event begins at noon and paddlers will compete in a number of age and gender categories, from kids’ races all the way up to an over-40 division. A blindfolded race will also take place, offering comedic relief for spectators. The event will include live music, food, raffles and a large green space to watch the races. Admission is free for
ä See SUMMER, page 2A
SAVE up $ 38 to 3
SAVE 61 ¢
LB
SAVE 83 ¢
tion. The new event will feature the state’s favorite crustaceans with all the fixings, alongside vendors, face painting and snowballs. Tickets are $25 at the gate, or $20 in advance. Children under 5 are free. It will take place at the Pine Grove Pentecostal Church, 67139 Chris Kennedy Road, Pearl River. Bayou Liberty Pirogue Championship: June 7 The annual pirogue races are back as Louisiana flat-bottom boats and canoes take to the
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