BOARD BRIEFS: July 14 Meeting

The Ouachita Parish School Board authorized and issued obligation bonds for facility projects and upgrades in Eastern Ouachita Parish during Tuesday’s regular board meeting.

The bonds, totaling $25 million, are the result of the May 2025 Eastside bond special election and will be issued on Sept 23, 2026. Ouachita Parish Schools maintains an AA-minus bond rating, which is among the highest among public school districts in Louisiana.

The School Board adopted a resolution for the ad valorum tax millage for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Millage rates for the Constitutional Tax (5.18), Operating and Maintenance Funds (24.15) and Eastside Bond (36.00) did not increase from the previous fiscal year. The Eastside Bond millage is a standard adoption millage and is not related to the bond issue passed in May 2025.

Any increase in tax revenue from the millages reflects an increase in the assessment of property values. Per state law, property values are reassessed every four years.

Millage revenue allows Ouachita Parish Schools to budget for classroom instruction, capital improvements, facility and equipment support, payment of mandated costs and to restore salary reductions for support staff.

The School Board also renewed its insurance with Gallagher Insurance of Monroe for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Nursing Positions

The School Board approved the addition of three full-time nursing positions and eliminating part-time substitute nursing positions. This staff revision is cost-neutral for Ouachita Parish Schools and provides nurses to every campus.

Architects Selected for Construction Projects

The School Board approved the selection of architects for the following construction projects:  

·         West Monroe High Dining Hall/Cafeteria Projects, Molly Underwood

·         West Monroe High Bathroom Renovations, Molly Underwood

·         Kiroli Elementary Bathroom Renovations, Molly Underwood

·         George Welch Elementary Bathroom Renovations, Molly Underwood

·         Riverbend Elementary Bathroom Renovations, Architecture Alliance Group

Official Journal

The School Board approved the Ouachita Citizen as its official journal for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Executive Session

The School Board entered executive session with legal counsel Tommy Hayes IV of Hammonds, Sills, Adkins, Guice, Noah & Perkins to discuss prospective litigation regarding bodily injury caused by a falling tree and Pinecrest Elementary and the anticipation of a pre-suit mediation of claims.

Bid Item                                                                      Funding Source                      Budget Amount
Property Sale – Burks School                                       N/A                                             N/A
Sound Systems                                                               ES Bond/WOST                         $324,283
WMHS Roof Replacement                                           M&O                                           $675,000

The School Board granted permission to bid on the following items:

Bid Item                                                                      Funding Source                     Budget Amount
Claiborne, GHMS, WRMS, WS Fern Damage            Insurance/FEMA                      $1,200,000                                       
CMS, CES, Central, WOHS Fern Damage                   Insurance/FEMA                      $730,000
Riverbend Bathroom Renovations                             WOST                                         $200,000     
WMHS Bathroom Renovations                                   WOST                                         $300,000
Kiroli/George Welch Bathroom Renovations           WOST                                         $200,000     
WOHS Berm Improvements                                        WOST                                         $575,000