Members of Concerned Citizens of Webster Parish met July 2 at the Webster Parish Library, where they discussed education, local government, and upcoming elections while making plans to continue engaging with public officials.
The meeting opened with discussion of the recent parishwide school sales tax election, with attendees expressing satisfaction that the measure was defeated.
“I feel like things that are not right, that we should be able to address those concerns and make it better for our community,” said Terrell Mendenhall, who led the meeting.
Mendenhall reviewed topics discussed during the group’s previous meeting, including questions surrounding the future of the former J.L. Jones Elementary School building following the Webster Parish School Board’s decision to close the campus.
“Has anybody gotten any answers to the repurposing of J.L. Jones?” Mendenhall asked the group.
No members said they had received additional information, although one attendee commented that many teachers from J.L. Jones had not yet been reassigned to other schools.
Members also discussed concerns related to student transitions resulting from the closure, including questions about classroom space at Richardson Elementary School, whether portable classrooms would be used, possible changes in class sizes, and traffic flow at the campus.
The group reiterated its desire for the Webster Parish School Board and Minden City Council to hold meetings on different days, saying the current schedule makes it difficult for residents to attend both.
Additional discussion centered on teacher professional development. Members questioned how information learned by educators at conferences is shared with other teachers throughout the district and asked who oversees professional development within the school system.
The group also discussed ways to bring additional community resources into schools, including financial literacy instruction and expanded access to services provided by David Raines Community Health Centers.
Mendenhall said he plans to meet with Webster Parish Schools Superintendent Johnny Rowland and Willie White before the start of the school year to discuss the group’s concerns.
“We’ve got to come up with a plan and be effective with that plan, and we’ve got to see it all the way out. That’s the only way that we’re going to make all this happen,” Mendenhall said.
The meeting also included discussion of upcoming local elections, with members encouraging one another to research candidates before voting.
“This group needs to start vetting people before the upcoming election,” Mendenhall said. “You have to screen these candidates; you have to know their background.”
Discussion included researching candidates’ experience, involvement in the community, and observing how they perform in different settings. Mendenhall also encouraged community members to consider seeking elected office themselves.
“You could be making a difference right here,” he said.
The final discussion topic focused on the City of Minden’s ongoing efforts to demolish dilapidated structures.
A former resident identified as Ms. Dozier spoke about three rental properties she owns that have been identified for demolition. She said she has been unable to resolve the matter to her satisfaction with city officials and believes she has been treated differently than other property owners with similarly identified structures. She said the property taxes on the homes are current, although the houses require renovation.
Before concluding the meeting, Mendenhall invited declared candidates in attendance to introduce themselves and answer questions from the audience. Those who spoke included Stewart, a candidate for the Webster Parish School Board’s District 10 seat, and Barnette, a candidate for Minden chief of police.
The group concluded by making plans to attend upcoming City Council and School Board meetings and to hold another meeting before the start of the new school year.