Natchitoches Parish superintendent says schools ready for start with limited, short-term repairs pending

Dr. Miguel Eloy, superintendent of Natchitoches Parish schools, told the board that the district will open on schedule but a small number of building repairs and installations remain incomplete.

Eloy said the decorative wooden fence at Natchitoches Junior High (NJH) will not be finished by the first day because "there is not enough wood that fits the parameters for that fence in Natchitoches Parish right now. I am assured it will be completed within the first 2 weeks of school." He also reported delays to pre-K bathrooms at Magnet (pending flooring), the arrival of replacement metal for a repaired roof piece, and a planned intercom installation at one school.

Why it matters: the unfinished items affect school appearance and limited student facilities but do not, according to the superintendent, prevent the scheduled start of classes. The district asked parents and staff for "patience and grace" as staff work through registrations, route changes and a small number of open maintenance items.

Eloy told the board that two modular classroom buildings may not have electricity on the first day because of "some legal stuff and permitting stuff" raised by the fire marshal, but he expected power to be restored by Thursday and said staffer Antavious would "work around" the issue in the meantime. Eloy also said an engineering study is needed for a drainage problem at the high-school atrium: "that is beyond maintenance...it is probably gonna be a structural change of some sort with the plumbing," and staff will solicit engineering bids.

Transportation director Benny Baptiste (presenting the transportation report) said bus routes for the 2025-26 year have been finalized and the district added 15 new buses and eight new drivers over the summer. He said the additions will reduce crowding and improve on-time performance. Baptiste cautioned parents that GPS tracking on buses was about 70% reliable at the time of the meeting and that six buses still needed new trackers installed: "for that first week or so just realize that, we're working together to get it to that 100%." He and the superintendent asked families to confirm address and registration information so drivers can deliver students safely and on time.

The board also heard operational items tied to student safety and start-of-school logistics: crossing guards are now administered by the district and supervised by Joey Miller, and the central office has a supply of uniforms and some funds to assist families who arrive at school without required clothing. Personnel director Ramona Winder said families in need should contact the central office; she described the referral process as staff-driven and informal for urgent needs: "they just ask. Okay. Yeah. That will be verification enough, you know, for me." The board discussed open houses and media appearances showcasing renovated campuses.

Ending: The superintendent reiterated that most schools look "really, really nice" and asked the community to be patient on the first day as staff respond to registration and routing issues. Several items announced as coming to a future meeting included hunting-lease bid awards and an executive session to follow up on a personnel transition.