St. Tammany School Board Approves One-Year Contract

Warning: this article references explicit language captured on a hot mic.

The St. Tammany Parish School Board voted unanimously during Thursday’s meeting to approve a one-year extension of the current collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ federation.

The vote was met with applause from supporters in attendance, marking a notable moment ahead of upcoming financial negotiations scheduled for May 4 and 5.

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The meeting also drew attention online after a hot mic moment appeared to capture a board member saying “go F yourselves” following the vote. The comment has since circulated and sparked discussion across social media.

Update (Oct. 1, 2026): NOLA.com and The Advocate later identified the board member heard on the hot mic as District 5 member Brandon Harrell, who apologized publicly on April 28 and said his words were not aimed at school employees. An attempt to force a censure vote failed 5–7 with two abstentions (NOLA.com). On July 9 the board accepted a memorandum of understanding with the federation that provides pay-level increases worth $500 for certificated employees and $350 for support employees for 2026-27 (St. Tammany Parish Public Schools). WDSU also reported the April vote (WDSU).