LIVINGSTON, La. — The Livingston Parish School Board conducted a special meeting on October 16, 2025, recognizing student achievements, approving several construction bids, and learning about upcoming changes to state testing requirements.
Before the pledge of allegiance, Walker High School student Collin Sprouse shared details about his family's nonprofit "KidCreations," which collects donations to create activity bags for children in Louisiana hospitals. What started with a goal of 25 bags in their first year grew to 95, and the initiative has now distributed 750 bags. Also leading the pledge were Piper House from Holden High School and Springfield High School Homecoming Queen Caroline Kirkpatrick.
With President Stephen Link and Vice President William "Jeff" Frizell absent, board member Cecil Harris called the meeting to order. The seven board members present unanimously approved the minutes from the October 2 meeting before moving to several action items.
The board approved a cooperative endeavor agreement resolution with Superintendent Purvis regarding surplus allocations from Act 461 of the 2025 legislative session through a roll-call vote. They also ratified bids for the Albany Elementary School classroom renovation project, awarding the contract to Blount General Contractors, LLC for $1,684,000, well below the $2.2 million budget.
Additional approvals included a three-year contract with ELOS Environmental, LLC for environmental consulting services, with the option for two one-year renewals. The board also gave permission to re-advertise a house in the Holden area that failed to receive bids on October 13, authorizing a 25% price reduction.
In his closing remarks, Superintendent Purvis congratulated South Live Oak Elementary on its recognition as a Louisiana Blue Ribbon School, one of eight schools in the state honored for academic excellence and closing achievement gaps. The state now awards the designation after the federal program was recently discontinued.
Purvis also announced significant changes to high school testing requirements. Beginning with students entering ninth grade in August 2026, state exams will be reduced from six to four. Algebra 1 and Geometry will be combined into a single math test, while English 1 and 2 will merge into one English exam, both administered at the end of sophomore year. Though the changes raise questions about curriculum alignment, Purvis noted that "any time there is a reduction in testing, obviously we are going to look at it as a positive."
