The Natchitoches Parish School Board held its monthly committee meeting on Sept. 1, working through an extensive agenda that spanned operational reports, employee compensation plans, facility updates, and a broad series of district policy revisions.
Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi reported a smooth start to the school year across campuses. Addressing recent record-breaking heat, Eloi noted that coaches across junior high and high school levels are actively using wet-bulb globe temperature testing to monitor humidity and prevent heat-related illnesses during athletic activities.
Administrative and community updates included:
- Partnering with vendor EccoRide, the district has initiated a soft rollout of new GPS tracking software. The system requires parents to opt in to view route information and sends automated notifications when a bus approaches a student’s stop.
- The department has hired three new drivers and maintains a full staff of 40 bus monitors. Drivers continue to perform mandatory manual walk-throughs to press “child check” buttons at the rear of each bus before leaving vehicles.
- Students and staff are invited to wear gold on Sept. 9 for pediatric cancer awareness. The district is also publicizing Act 305, a new state law that imposes stiffer penalties for smoking or vaping marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school zone.
- A proclamation celebrates the 100th heavenly birthday of late educator Emma Robinson Williams on Sept. 15, 2026. Williams taught for 38 years in rural Natchitoches Parish schools. The full board will vote on and formally present the proclamation to her family next week.
A legislative Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) stipend proposal was presented. State guidance mandated stipends for classroom teachers and basic support staff—costing $1,003,122 for 157 $1,000-level and 337 $2,000-level eligible recipients.
To bridge the gap for employee categories excluded by the state—including principals, assistant principals, counselors, nurses, social workers, and early childhood staff—district leadership recommended spending an additional $217,008 to cover 12 excluded $1,000-level and 84 excluded $2,000-level staff.
Key details of the stipend plan include:
- Total Cost: Approximately $1.22 million, coming in below the state’s $1.75 million estimate and last year’s $1.3 million payout.
- Payout Date: Single-payment distribution scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026, for employees active as of Oct. 19.
- Executive Exclusions: Dr. Eloi clarified that superintendent office administrators—excluding his secretary—will voluntarily opt out of the stipend. Eloi also committed to serving as a classroom substitute teacher once a month to boost morale.
In maintenance, over 300 work orders in August, including 71 HVAC calls caused by extreme temperatures damaging newer units rated for 95°F. Thirteen HVAC issues remain active across Natchitoches Central, Marthaville, Provencal, L.P. Vaughn, and Lakeview while awaiting backordered parts. Other maintenance projects include completed canopy construction at Fairview, districtwide fire and kitchen hood inspections, and scheduled plumbing and seal repairs at Marthaville.
The committee concluded by reviewing several updated policy guidelines:
- Facility Usage Agreement: Updates require outside organizers to hire district custodians and security officers, prohibit commercial entities from using facilities for personal profit, and funnel applications through an online principal-approval process.
- Criminal Background Information Policies: Following a Louisiana State Police audit, updated physical security guidelines for background records, a five-year record retention schedule, and formal appeal procedures were presented.
- Pupil Progression Plan: Updated per state mandates to require Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) for all eighth graders and clarify magnet program selection language.
- Health & Student Policies: The board reviewed its triennial Wellness Policy, updated rules for third-party behavioral health providers operating in schools, reinstated Code of Conduct pathways guiding chronically disruptive adult students (aged 18+ with under 10 credits) toward HiSET/GED programs, and established a revised Family Engagement Plan featuring a new high school newsletter.
All discussed items, stipend proposals, and policy revisions will go before the full board for formal votes during the regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8.