The St. Tammany Parish School Board gave plans for the new Robert C. Brooks Jr. Educational Complex in Slidell the green light Thursday night during a meeting of the Committee as a Whole.

The plans were presented to the community in a public meeting last month. Named for pioneering educator Robert C. Brooks Jr., the complex replaces the Robert C. Brooks Jr. Curriculum Center on Sgt. Alfred Drive that was badly damaged during Hurricane Katrina and demolished late last year.

Brooks spent nearly 40 years in the St. Tammany school system and lived just long enough to see the plans for the building that will bear his name. He died earlier this week at 104 and reportedly was “very happy” with the new design. “His passing makes it even more important to proceed with rebuilding the center,” said Deputy Superintendent Trey Folse.

The complex will be elevated on piers, putting it 11 feet above sea level, about 6 feet higher than the previous building. It will feature a number of energy-saving and environmentally-friendly features, such as window awnings to cut down on ambient heat entering the classrooms and non-CFC refrigerant for the heating and cooling systems.

It was also announced that the new early childhood learning center in Pearl River will be called Little Pearl Elementary School. The name was chosen from dozens of submissions received by the board and approved during Thursday’s meeting after the list had been narrowed to two.

In other business, the board unanimously approved changes and additions to the District Handbook for Students and Parents. Included are the prohibition of hoods worn on campus for both males and females, penalties for false bomb threats and acts of misconduct on- or off-campus, and a ban on cyber-bullying.

Vice President and District 15 representative Mary K. Bellisario suggested that a definition of cyber-bullying also be added to the handbook glossary.

The board also approved the appointment of new Screening and Evaluation Committee members.

The committee is responsible for evaluating proposals from architects and others under consideration for providing professional services to the school system.

In addition, the board voted to approve the following budget revisions:

Projected 12 percent increase in ad valorem property tax collections from the prior year.

Increase of $378,173 in the MFP allocation, based on February 2008 student counts.

Decrease in sales tax collections of approximately two to three percent.

Addition of one trainer and three inspector positions in the transportation department.

Addition of three assistant principal positions for schools with less than 400 students, with the position shared among different schools.

Addition of 16 para-tech positions to support the Technology Initiative for Schools.

A bid of $96,000 was also accepted from Barriere Construction for a drainage project at Slidell High School, as was a bid from J.C. & W. C. Construction of $150,000 for a parking lot at Pine View Middle School.

All of the items voted on in the May 1 meeting will not become official until coming before the full school board meeting on May 8.