The Webster Parish School Board heard from a former student whose life was changed through a parish employment initiative and discussed the future of funding for Sarepta schools during its regular meeting Monday night. All board members were present, and all items, unless otherwise noted, were approved unanimously.
Former Webster Parish student Tanner Estes and his father spoke to the board about the impact of the Webster WORKS Program, which provides job opportunities to students with disabilities through a partnership between Webster Parish Schools and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services. Estes, who now works in the cafeteria at Doyline High School, said the program has helped him gain the skills needed for steady employment.
His father told the board how meaningful the opportunity has been for their family. “At one time we considered filing for government aid for Tanner, due to his disability and struggles, but that isn’t what we wanted for him,” he said. “We wanted him to be productive and useful in society. The Webster Parish School Board made that dream come true for us.”
Superintendent Johnny Rowland said the program benefits both students and the community, offering on-the-job training while connecting local employers with motivated young workers.
In other business, board members discussed how to address the failed millage renewal in the Sarepta area. The renewal, which supports operations at North Webster Junior High School, was rejected by voters during the October 11 election. The board plans to consider placing the measure back on the spring ballot.
The current millage remains in effect through December 2027, and the district has about $1 million in reserve funds. Those funds could sustain basic operations for a time, officials said, but utilities and other ongoing costs — such as the $87,257.74 spent last year on utilities alone — make long-term reliance on reserves unsustainable.
Also during the meeting, the board recognized the winners of the September Attendance Awareness Month poster contest. Students received a certificate and a $10 Walmart gift card for their entries under the theme “HERO: Here Everyday Ready On-Time.”
Winners included Jaiden Jackson (Browning), Myleigh Rankin (Brown), Augustus Fuller (Central), Makynlee Jeter (Doyline), Deanna Jones (Jones), Hudson West (Phillips), Thomas Hutchinson (North Webster Lower Elementary), Izzy Adams (North Webster Upper Elementary), and Caleb Anderson (Lakeside).
The Employee of the Month recognition for October, presented by Kevin Thompson of Taylor and Sons, went to Crystal Heard, counselor at Central Elementary School. That story will be featured in a future Minden Press-Herald article.
Other agenda items included:
– Approval of minutes from the September 8 finance committee and regular board meetings.
– Approval of the 2025–2026 Pupil Progression Plan.
– Approval of the FY 2025–2026 Louisiana Department of Education Stipend Guidelines, which were unchanged from the previous version except for updated dates.
– Approval for the Human Performance Education Center (HPEC) to open a bank account with Bonvenu Bank to support a cashless system.
– Authorization to open credit card accounts with B1 Bank for all 14 schools, with the superintendent and board president authorized to sign for the district.
– Approval for 12–14 members of the Minden High School Nature Club to travel to Petit Jean State Park in Conway County, Arkansas, on Nov. 2–5. The trip will be funded by the club and personal finances.
– Approval for Lakeside Junior/Senior High School FBLA sponsor Lesa Ward and the chapter president to attend the National Fall Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Nov. 5–9. Funding will come from the local FBLA chapter.
– Approval for Olivia Sebald and Angelisa Strayhan to attend the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Conference in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 2–4, funded through Title V.
– Approval of Job #2024-08.B for improvements to Browning Elementary and Brown Upper Elementary, awarded to Walker Construction Co. Inc. of Ruston with a base bid of $2,409,000 and an alternate bid of $40,000. The total cost was about $1 million under budget.
– Approval to declare six approximately-25-year-old Blue Bird school buses as surplus for auction.
– Approval of numerous maintenance fund allocations for upgrades and repairs at campuses parishwide.
The board deferred action on the property insurance proposal until its November10 meeting.
Bus driver classes are scheduled to begin at Harper Pathways to Excellence on October 20, 21, 23, 27, and 28 from 5–9 PM. Pay for new drivers is about $16,000 per year.
The board later entered an executive session to discuss a worker’s compensation settlement claim; no action was taken.
The next regular Webster Parish School Board meeting will be held November 10 at 6 PM at the Educational Services Center in Minden.