Student achievement, teacher retention, school safety, and responsible spending were among the leading concerns expressed by candidates for the Webster Parish School Board in responses to a Minden Press-Herald questionnaire ahead of the November 3 election.
Nine candidates representing six School Board districts submitted responses, offering their perspectives on challenges facing the district and the changes they would pursue if elected.
Candidates were asked about academic performance, employee recruitment and retention, student behavior, financial management, resource allocation, and communication with families and school employees. They were also invited to explain their qualifications and reasons for seeking office.
While several candidates emphasized the need to strengthen basic academic skills, and support teachers, others focused on declining enrollment, student attendance, discipline, financial accountability, and rebuilding public confidence in the school system.
District 3
Elizabeth Simmons identified declining enrollment and the number of families choosing schools outside Webster Parish as major concerns. She said students are leaving for schools in Arkansas, neighboring parishes, and private institutions, and the district must find ways to regain families’ confidence.
Simmons called for stricter discipline policies, saying classroom disruptions interfere with learning and contribute to teacher frustration. She also expressed concern about teachers leaving the district and said school leaders should seek feedback from departing employees.
A school bus driver and mother of five children enrolled in Webster Parish Schools, Simmons also serves as municipal clerk for the Town of Sarepta. She advocated improved communication between administrators, teachers, employees, and board members, along with greater attention to classroom resources and employee compensation.
Patricia McMurray focused on academic performance, particularly schools requiring intervention.
McMurray said nine Webster Parish schools have been identified as needing urgent or comprehensive intervention, with students with disabilities, and African American students among those most affected.
She advocated targeted tutoring, stronger parental involvement and high expectations for all students. McMurray also suggested offering signing bonuses in difficult-to-fill teaching positions and allocating resources according to student needs rather than school size.
A retired educator with 33 years of experience as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal, McMurray said she would bring experience from multiple states to the board.
Her priorities include improving student achievement, reducing absenteeism, strengthening community involvement, and helping schools move out of intervention status.
District 5
Michael Wilkes identified three major challenges facing the school district: parental involvement, employee morale, and finances.
Wilkes said the district should create an environment that attracts qualified teachers and encourages employees to remain. He advocated competitive compensation, strong classroom support, and consistent discipline policies.
He also called for a comprehensive examination of district spending, staffing, facilities, and assets.
“The classroom is the premier focal point of our finances,” Wilkes wrote.
Wilkes said the School Board should determine whether existing campuses are being used efficiently and distribute resources according to demonstrated needs. He also emphasized timely publication of board agendas and minutes.
The pastor of Whispering Pines Missionary Baptist Church and president of Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute & Seminary, Wilkes said his motivation for seeking office is to help preserve educational opportunities for future generations.
Ricky Thomas emphasized accountability in academic performance, employee support and the use of taxpayer dollars.
Thomas said the district should prioritize reading, writing, and mathematics while identifying struggling students early and providing additional support.
He advocated competitive employee compensation, professional development, and stronger partnerships with colleges and universities to recruit educators.
Thomas also expressed concern about construction spending and change orders, suggesting the district designate a project manager to oversee construction timelines, contracts and expenses.
He questioned whether school consolidation always produces the expected savings, pointing to transportation costs and longer bus rides as factors that should be considered.
Thomas cited 36 years of experience operating Thomas Services, including contracting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with his current position overseeing water distribution and wastewater collection for the City of Minden.
He said his business and contract management experience would help him evaluate district spending and infrastructure projects.
District 7
Terry Combs identified student attendance as a major issue, saying the district should examine barriers such as transportation difficulties, health concerns, bullying, and anxiety.
Combs advocated safe learning environments, additional resources for struggling schools, and consistent policies addressing attendance, discipline, and student behavior.
To support teacher retention, he suggested a one-time retention payment and a $500 classroom materials stipend, provided district finances allow.
Combs also proposed holding community meetings every three months to discuss School Board actions and hear concerns from parents, teachers and employees.
He cited 20 years as a project supervisor for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and 10 years as head of Minden’s Street and Drainage Department, where he manages an annual budget of approximately $3 million to $5 million.
Combs, who has also served as pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for nine years, said his priorities are student achievement, teacher support, and school safety.
District 8
“Miss Chris” Broussard identified funding, attendance, and educational opportunities as important concerns.
Broussard said the district must remain financially sound while providing students with opportunities that encourage creativity and engagement.
She emphasized early literacy, teacher support, and expanded arts education, particularly at the elementary level.
“When you can spark a child’s imagination, you ignite their desire to learn,” Broussard wrote.
She suggested exploring an instructional approach known as “looping,” in which teachers remain with the same students for more than one school year, allowing them to better understand individual learning needs.
Broussard also proposed studying whether Richardson and Phillips elementary schools could benefit from a shared campus arrangement, while emphasizing that costs and community input would need to be examined before any decision.
She cited experience teaching in public and private schools, operating The Children’s Center, and helping secure nearly $1 million in grants and foundation support for Cultural Crossroads of Minden.
Heather Feeback identified communication and transparency as the most significant issues facing the district.
Feeback advocated stronger foundational instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, and practical life skills, along with early identification of students who need additional help.
She proposed establishing a Teacher Advisory Council to give educators a direct voice in district decisions.
Feeback also emphasized responsible spending, student safety, consistent discipline, and a firm stance against bullying.
Her communication proposals include regular social media updates, a dedicated email address, opportunities for anonymous feedback, and greater accessibility to constituents.
Feeback cited nearly 10 years of municipal government experience, her Louisiana Certified Municipal Clerk designation, and her experience in administration and budgeting.
As the parent of a child attending Webster Parish Schools, she said she wants to strengthen the relationship between the School Board and the families it serves.
District 9
Belinda Neloms Evans emphasized student readiness and the need to address challenges that interfere with learning.
Evans said poverty, unstable home environments, and limited mental health resources can contribute to absenteeism, discipline problems, and academic difficulties.
She advocated stronger early literacy and mathematics instruction, additional counselors and intervention specialists, and increased support for teachers.
Evans also called for competitive compensation, professional development, and careful financial oversight, including regular budget reviews and evaluation of educational programs.
She said resources should be allocated using factors such as student needs, staffing, enrollment, and building conditions.
A lifelong District 9 resident with a background in finance, Evans identified student achievement, teacher retention, school safety, transparency, and responsible budgeting as her primary concerns.
District 11
Gary Cooper, a retired educator, said recruiting highly qualified teachers and increasing parental involvement should be among the district’s leading priorities.
Cooper advocated competitive salaries, positive working relationships among administrators and employees, and continued improvements to school facilities.
He said the district should carefully research educational programs before committing taxpayer funds.
Regarding discipline, attendance and school safety, Cooper emphasized allowing school administrators and district leadership to address problems through the established chain of command, with School Board involvement when other avenues have been exhausted.
Cooper said board members should remain visible at school activities and build relationships with the families and employees they represent.
He spent the final 28 years of his educational career in Webster Parish and cited his longstanding involvement with Lakeside Junior/Senior High School as a reason for seeking the District 11 seat.
Cooper holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education.
Looking ahead
Although the candidates offered different approaches, their responses reflected several common concerns, including improving academic outcomes, maintaining safe schools, retaining qualified employees, and ensuring that limited resources are used effectively.
Communication also emerged as a recurring theme, with candidates proposing community meetings, greater accessibility, improved reporting, and more opportunities for teachers and parents to participate in discussions.
The responses represent the positions of the candidates who returned questionnaires to the Minden Press-Herald by the October 7 deadline. They are not a complete listing of candidates seeking School Board seats in the November 3 election.