Caddo School Board approves sale of Queensborough Elementary to Willis‑Knighton after public objections

The Caddo Parish School Board voted to accept a bid from Jay Fielder (or his assignee) and approve a resolution authorizing the sale of Queensborough Elementary School to Willis‑Knighton following a pulled consent-item discussion and a public comment expressing concern about the price.

Resident Jacqueline Miller told the board she was “concerned” that Willis‑Knighton’s proposed $1,500,000 cash offer was too low and urged the board to prioritize distributing proceeds to schools that absorbed students from closed campuses, naming J. S. Clark, Atkins, Donny Bickham, Peddle Heights, Cresswell and Westwood. “I believe that we are being lowballed,” Miller said, noting the building has an elevator, basement and large gymnasium and saying the structure was extensively renovated after a fire in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Board member Trammell moved to accept the bid and approve the sale resolution; Board member Rochelle seconded the motion. During discussion Rochelle praised the sale, saying the district had rarely secured comparable proceeds in his time on the board and that the district was receiving about 93% of an appraiser’s commercial valuation. Board member Tharpe disclosed a conflict and abstained, saying she works for Willis‑Knighton. The motion passed with seven votes in favor and one abstention.

The sale was removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration before the vote. The motion submitted to the board referenced the bidder as “Jay Fielder or his assignee” and asked the board to approve the resolution authorizing the sale as recommended by staff and in the electronic mailout; the transcript does not record the board’s final signed sale price beyond the public comment and board remarks about appraisal percentages.

Resident concerns included both the amount offered and how the district would allocate proceeds. Jacqueline Miller asked that funds be prioritized to the schools that had absorbed displaced students rather than be dispersed in other ways. Board members did not describe a specific allocation plan for sale proceeds during the public discussion recorded in the transcript.

Board member Tharpe said publicly that she would abstain because she works for Willis‑Knighton. The board’s formal vote result announced on the record was “It passes with 7.”

No timeline for closing, escrow details, or contingencies tied to district approvals or required regulatory steps were discussed on the record during the meeting segment captured in the transcript.

Background: The sale of surplus school property and disposition of proceeds are routine matters on school boards’ agendas; at this meeting the item was moved out of consent so members and the public could comment before a recorded vote.