The Natchitoches Parish School Board directed the superintendent to convene a multiagency committee to review the district’s fight policy and the alternative-school program after several board members described repeated and premeditated student fights.

Board Member Paige said she was “really concerned about not just the level of fights … but the premeditated fights,” and asked whether students who assault staff or engage in violent fights could be detained, removed from campus and face criminal charges. The board agreed to invite the sheriff, city police and the district attorney to a July committee to discuss consistent enforcement, prosecution options and clearer consequences.

District staff described work already under way to make the district’s alternative-school placement more rehabilitative and accountable. The superintendent and administrators said the alternative program will add structured academic progress monitoring, social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons, therapy or intervention sessions, and reentry meetings that require parent participation. The board heard that the district plans to recruit a behavior specialist dedicated to the alternative program and to require measurable progress before students reenter regular school.

Board members and staff acknowledged limits in local court and juvenile systems: arrests and prosecution depend on law-enforcement and court capacity. The board asked the superintendent to coordinate a meeting with law enforcement and the district attorney to seek ways to pair school disciplinary action with criminal or diversion responses where appropriate. Board members said they want a policy that both deters fighting and ensures consistent treatment across schools.

The board created a working group of board members (Miss Harvey, Miss Paige, Miss McGasky and Mr. Nicholson volunteered) to participate in the July meeting. School staff will prepare recommended policy language and proposed operational changes for the alternative-school program for committee review; any formal policy change will return to the board for approval.