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Natchitoches board fields public concern over junior high roof, building repairs
Summary
Board members, staff and residents discussed persistent leaks and the cost of repairs at Natchitoches Junior High, and officials urged attendance at a March town hall about proposed facility changes and allocation of Building Repair and Equipment funds.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — The Natchitoches Parish School Board spent a large portion of its Feb. 11 meeting discussing ongoing roof leaks and building repairs at Natchitoches Junior High (NJH), with maintenance staff and several residents urging a long-term fix rather than repeated patching.
Board members and staff said the district has been addressing repeated leaks with temporary repairs while awaiting insurance proceeds for a more extensive replacement. ‘‘We had a total of 31 leaks across the district,’’ maintenance staff member Ryan Shirley said, describing a pattern of repairs that have been done piecemeal to keep buildings occupied.
The superintendent, Dr. Grant Eloy, and other staff described two related budget pressures: the annual Building Repair and Equipment (BRE) fund for city schools and money spent from other district reserves and bonds on past projects. Eloy said the district will host a public town hall at Natchitoches Junior High on March 6 to discuss the proposal and to give residents more detail about the plan and costs.
Why it matters: Officials said NJH’s maintenance needs have grown over several years and now account for a large share of BRE spending for city schools. Board discussion included historical repair costs, bond-funded projects already completed, and the operational tradeoffs of repairing while students remain on site.
What officials said: Eloy said NJH has required recurring repairs since hurricane damage and that temporary patching has been used to maintain occupancy. ‘‘When the insurance money comes in,’’ he said, the district expects a more comprehensive repair that will be more durable than the short-term fixes. Ryan Shirley said the current work has included repeated patching and that some types of repairs cannot be completed while surfaces are wet or while students occupy the building.
Residents and a city council member who spoke during public input urged the board to relocate students temporarily while a full roof replacement is completed. One commenter identified in the record as Rosemary Washington, representing District 4, said parents and staff would prefer a temporary move to reduce academic disruption and stress on teachers.
Budget context and clarifications: Board discussion included a BRE revenue figure for city schools of about $1.755 million per year. Officials estimated that repairs at NJH could rise to roughly $486,000 in the current year — about 28% of the BRE pool for city schools — up from roughly $230,000 in 2020. Board members also described past bond spending of roughly $19 million for city-school projects, with about $9 million reportedly spent on restroom and other campus work; some exact project allocations were described as estimates in board discussion.
Next steps: Board members and staff repeatedly encouraged public attendance at the March 6 town hall at Natchitoches Junior High. No formal board action to relocate students or to award a roof-replacement contract occurred at the Feb. 11 meeting; the item remained a discussion topic and will be presented further at upcoming meetings and the town hall.
Ending: Board members asked staff to continue preparing detailed cost estimates and to present clearer historical accounting of BRE and bond expenditures at future meetings so residents can compare options before any large capital decision is made.
