District staff reported to the school board that the 2025 summer internship program placed 19 high-school interns across multiple campuses and paid more than $81,000 in wages. Staff said the total included 2,061 recorded hours for the interns listed in the handout; additional career-and-technical program hours were not included in that total.
Staff said the district received about $60,000 in state reimbursement and that roughly $20,000 came from the district's general fund. The program included students from Ponchatoula High School, Sumner High, Independence, La Ronja, Hammond High, Magnet School, AMEAD and Kentwood, and the interns performed tasks such as classroom support, textbook work and facilities help during the summer.
Staff highlighted individual outcomes: Wyatt Baker began as a high-school accounting student and intern and is now enrolled at Southeastern; he also received the Julius Prokop Jr. accounting scholarship and wrote letters of recommendation for fellow interns. Principals and presenters said the program helped campuses complete work and provided students with work experience and pay ahead of the school year.