A proposal to reduce the number of Natchitoches Parish School Board (NPSB) members from the current 11 to either nine or seven was brought before the board during its committee meeting on Aug. 5. The discussion, led by Board President Reba Phelps, focused on cost savings, board efficiency, and legal considerations, with several members voicing both support and concerns.
Phelps opened the discussion with prepared remarks, calling it a “truly unique and historic opportunity” for the board to lead by example during a period of widespread cuts across the district. She cited the closure or relocation of multiple schools, the loss of International Paper as a major taxpayer, and staff reductions—14% at the central office and 7% district-wide—as part of a challenging year for Natchitoches Parish education.
“We’re constantly asking district employees to do more with less,” Phelps said. “I feel like it’s our turn.”
According to Phelps, reducing the board could result in significant long-term savings, with the cost of redrawing district lines estimated at $25,000. She provided a comparative analysis of other Louisiana parishes, noting that larger school systems such as East Baton Rouge operate with just nine board members. Natchitoches Parish currently serves around 5,000 students.
Legal guidelines allow school boards to have between five and 15 members. To proceed, a redistricting plan would need to be finalized and submitted to the Secretary of State by July 1, 2026. This requires public hearings, adoption before the deadline, and confirmation that any new plan aligns with current precinct boundaries.
Phelps emphasized that an impartial demographer would redraw the lines to ensure balanced representation across the parish, including rural areas. She dismissed concerns of gerrymandering and noted that even with seven or nine members, the board could still maintain a fair balance of minority representation.
Several board members agreed that the topic warranted discussion, though opinions varied on whether now is the right time to act.
Board Members Steven Harris and Billy Benefield voiced some opposition to moving forward before a U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected in the 2025-2026 term that could impact how districts drawn based on race are evaluated under the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment.
“The Supreme Court is going to rule on the new representation in our district,” they shared. “It would be money poorly spent and poorly invested until we know the law of the land.”
Benefield raised concerns that a premature redistricting effort could be invalidated or challenged if federal standards change, particularly given the history of court oversight in Natchitoches Parish’s district boundaries. He urged the board to delay action until after the ruling.
Other board members shared concerns about losing representation for rural areas and expressed caution about compressing districts too soon, especially given the unique geographical spread of the parish. Still, some acknowledged that the potential savings—while modest—symbolized a broader gesture of shared sacrifice.
“If we don’t explore this option, we’re asking others to do more with less while exempting ourselves,” said Phelps.
While no action was taken during the meeting, the proposal sparked a wide-ranging and sometimes tense debate over cost, fairness, timing, and legal risk. The board is expected to revisit the matter in future meetings as the 2026 redistricting deadline approaches.
The discussion remains ongoing, with some members advocating for further exploration before the end of 2025, while others call for a full pause until the legal landscape is clearer.