Attendance across Webster Parish schools was strong on the first day back following a weeklong closure caused by a recent ice storm, Superintendent Johnny Rowland told board members Monday during his report to the Webster Parish School Board.
“It went better than expected,” Rowland said of students’ return after campuses were closed for five days due to hazardous road conditions.
Rowland said the district is working with education leaders in Region 7 and Region 8, which cover much of north Louisiana, to seek a waiver from the state for instructional minutes lost during the weather-related shutdown.
The report came during the board’s regular meeting held Monday at the Educational Services Center on Sheppard Street in Minden. Linda Kinsey of District 7 was absent, and Jonathan Guthrie of District 4 monitored the meeting remotely. All agenda items were approved unanimously.
In other action, the board approved a new five-year contract, with an optional two-year extension, with Hunt Telecommunications LLC, a Uniti company, for E-Rate Category 1 internet access, wide area network services and related services. The contract begins July 1.
Board members also approved a trip for North Webster Upper Elementary fifth graders to travel by charter bus to NASA’s Space Center in Houston on April 2. The $5,125 transportation cost will be covered by Title I funds, with students responsible for remaining expenses.
The board announced it plans to consider adopting a resolution at its March 2 meeting to call a special election in Consolidated School District No. 3 to authorize the rededication of an ad valorem tax. A separate agenda item regarding a potential tax renewal election in Sarepta School District No. 35 was struck from the agenda.
Members adopted resolutions establishing guidelines for appointments to the Webster Parish School Board Educational Facilities Improvement District and appointing the district’s board of directors.
The board approved a number of maintenance and upgrade expenditures for campuses across the parish using individual district maintenance funds.
During recognitions, Kevin Thompson of Taylor and Sons presented the February Employee of the Month award to Darrell Hughes, a teacher at North Webster Upper Elementary. The board also recognized and welcomed foreign exchange students attending Webster Parish schools during the 2025-26 school year. Each of these stories will be detailed in future Minden Press-Herald articles.
For informational purposes, the board noted that junior and senior students from North Webster High School will attend an open house at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College in Minden on February 4 at no cost. The Minden High School Nature Club will travel to Baton Rouge and New Orleans March 3-6 for educational activities.
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for 6PM March 2 at the school board office on Sheppard Street. The meeting will be open to the public.