The Natchitoches Parish School Board moved closer to a second consecutive year of staff layoffs during its committee meeting Tuesday, as district leaders outlined a “perfect storm” of economic challenges that have created a multi-million dollar budget gap.
The discussion, held during the April 14 committee session, focused on a proposed Reduction in Force (RIF) for the 2026-2027 school year. Because the session was a committee meeting, no formal action was taken; the full board is expected to cast a definitive vote on the matter at its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 21.
Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi detailed a significant financial shift triggered by two primary factors: the closure of the International Paper (IP) mill and the sudden termination of the federal “Strong” grant.
The district had built its long-term financial plan around the $14.6 million “Strong” grant, which was originally anticipated to last five years. However, due to a restructuring within the federal Department of Education, the funding was cut after only three years. Combined with the loss of ad valorem tax revenue from the IP mill, the district is now looking to eliminate approximately 25 positions.
“Had I had full knowledge of all the variables involved with the IP closure and the Strong grant… we would have been able to take care of this in one riff,” Eloi told the board. “We do not anticipate that we will have to come back to you again in a third year. We feel this will completely ‘right the ship.'”
The proposed RIF procedures follow state statutes, which require that layoffs be based on performance evaluations rather than seniority. A point of emphasis during the meeting was the role of “Master Teachers.” Under the proposed rules, if two Master Teachers have identical performance scores, a secondary “cluster evaluation” will be used as a tiebreaker before falling back on years of service.
Eloi noted that while some employees may lose their current roles, the district aims to retain as many people as possible through attrition or alternative roles.
Other Agenda Items and Board Business:
While the RIF was the primary focus of the executive report, the committee discussed several other items slated for a vote on April 21:
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NSU Lab School Agreement: Discussion on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Northwestern State University concerning the Elementary and Middle Lab Schools. The agreement aims to clarify roles and shift certain facility maintenance costs to the university.
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Bond Issuance: A resolution authorizing the issuance of $12,545,000 in General Obligation School Bonds(Series 2026). These funds, approved by voters in November, are earmarked for district-wide improvements.
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Online Payment Policy: A discussion regarding parent/guardian payments of school fees. The board is moving toward forming a committee to create a formal policy that addresses “cashless” options while ensuring accessibility for all families.
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Lease Agreements: * An agricultural lease agreement for Section 16, T7, R5 with a bid from James Wilson.
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A cell tower lease expansion at the Goldonna school site with Everest Infrastructure Partners, which is expected to generate additional revenue.
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Monthly Informational Reports: The committee reviewed monthly updates on Personnel, Maintenance, Federal Programs, Food Service (SFS), and Sales Tax. Notably, the Sales Tax report showed a 2.1% cumulative increase over the prior year.
The School Board will convene for its regular meeting on April 21, 2026, to cast formal votes on the RIF declaration, the bond resolution, and the other pending items from the committee agenda.
