The Ouachita Parish School Board approved several procurement actions and routine items including accepting a construction bid, granting an easement to the City of Monroe and approving the district’s Louisiana Legislative Auditor compliance questionnaire.

On bids, the board accepted the lowest responsive bidder for Stirlington High School classroom additions and athletic improvements: Gentry Construction at $6,199,000, which the board noted is below the $6,650,000 budgeted and funded by the East Side bond. The motion to accept the low bid was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board also approved multiple permission‑to‑bid items: small group intervention classroom furniture (Title I funds, budget $80,000); front office renovation and canopy at Lakeshore Elementary (East Side bond); Jack Hayes Elementary canopy; East Ouachita Middle School multipurpose building (budget $2,100,000, East Side bond); and two property sales (Gordon Avenue and Mineral Springs) to be re‑advertised after receiving no responsive bids. The board authorized issuing an RFP for E‑rate Category 2 IT equipment and supplies to secure approximately $3.5 million in federal discounts over five years (roughly $201 per student for 2026–2030).

On non‑construction items, the board granted an easement to the City of Monroe to allow a water‑main upgrade near the Tri‑Stick District Boys Club area and approved the Louisiana compliance questionnaire prepared by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor for the fiscal year ending June 30.

In the financial report for the period ending Aug. 31, 2025, the board’s finance presenter said the general fund ended the period with approximately $28.9 million in fund balance, about 96.4% of the prior year level; sales tax collections showed an increase through September. The presenter noted an expected increase in maintenance‑of‑effort (MNO) expenditures as ESSER funds wind down and budgeted expenditures revert to their original funding sources.