Catahoula School Board Addresses Student Services, Insurance and District Property

The Catahoula Parish School Board approved the district’s final student dress code during its October 6 meeting and addressed several other matters concerning insurance and district property.

Contracts with No Small Talk, LLC, and Tiffany Cater’s LLC were approved to provide speech therapy to eligible students. The district had advertised a full-time therapist but was unable to find one. The providers being considered already have other jobs they cannot leave to work full time for the school district. Paying the providers by the hour is also expected to cost less than hiring a full-time salaried employee.

Each therapist will work with assigned students whose individualized education programs, or IEPs, call for speech therapy.

Superintendent Cari Ann Nicholson explained that after reducing its workforce last year, Key Rehab no longer had enough staff to serve schools throughout Catahoula Parish. The company will continue serving students at Jonesville Elementary School, while No Small Talk and Tiffany Cater’s LLC will provide speech therapy at the district’s remaining schools.

Also approved were the district’s final student dress code and the 2026–2027 Pupil Progression Plan, which outlines requirements for students to advance through school and available support for those needing additional assistance.

Superintendent Johnie Adams noted the only change affects students in grades 4–12 who receive suspension. Previously, a parent or guardian had to transport and sign the student in each day. Because the district now has a bus available for transportation, the parent or guardian will only need to sign the student in on the first day.

Deborah Bennett will receive a $400 monthly supplemental payment for the 2026–2027 school year. Bennett operates the district’s only bus equipped for students requiring specialized transportation and is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment. A new Louisiana law requiring supplemental pay took effect last year. While some districts already provided this compensation, Catahoula Parish had not previously done so. The expense may be paid from the General Fund with support from Minimum Foundation Program transportation funding rather than federal IDEA special education funds.

The Finance Committee had recommended paying the $166,269 Alliance premium from the General Fund, but board member John Wayne Allbritton made a motion to amend the recommendation and use individual school district funds instead. Allbritton said that way Each district will pay the insurance cost for property in its area, including closed or abandoned school buildings. Because those balances may not always be enough, auditors advised the board to review and approve the funding source each year.

Lora White reported that the district’s Alliance property insurance premium decreased from approximately $300,000 to $166,269. The reduction was attributed to the lack of major storm losses.

Members also discussed moving the policy’s October renewal to the spring to further reduce costs. Before deciding, they will seek additional information from the insurance agent.

A $10,112.69 payment to LA1 Connect was approved to repair and upgrade fiber-optic lines serving Block High School and Central Alternative School. An outside provider was needed because district personnel could not repair the existing system or complete the necessary upgrades.

For the 2026–2027 school year, Deborah Bennett will receive an extra $400 per month for operating the district’s only bus with the required equipment. State law requires additional pay for an owner-operator whose bus has specialized equipment, such as a wheelchair lift. Catahoula Parish bus drivers are responsible for maintaining and repairing their own equipment. Although Bennett’s bus has been equipped for some time, the compensation requirement took effect last year, and the district had not previously made the payment. The cost may be paid from the General Fund with support from Minimum Foundation Program transportation funding rather than federal IDEA special education funds.

Hough Realty was also authorized to update appraisals on district properties before they are advertised for sale.

Permission was granted to the Catahoula Parish Police Jury to use and maintain as a public road the portion of Diversion Canal Levee Road crossing School Board property.

The action followed Attorney General Liz Murrill’s opinion that prevents the levee board from continuing road maintenance. The School Board is one of five affected landowners the Police Jury must obtain permission from, or the road will be closed and gated.

Adams said under the proposed five-year agreement, the Police Jury would maintain the road but could withdraw if it could no longer afford the expense. The levee board could also close the road if maintenance requirements are not met.

Members also authorized Hough Realty to complete updated property appraisals before the properties are advertised for sale.