Natchitoches Parish superintendent outlines staggered-start plan, proposes busing and low-cost childcare as mitigation
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Eloy updated the board on a proposed staggered school-start schedule and proposed mitigation steps — in-district transfer busing for employees, targeted before/after-school care and expanded routing analysis — while board members requested more route-level data before a December vote.
Dr. Eloy, superintendent of Natchitoches Parish Schools, updated the board Nov. 4 on a staggered-start proposal first discussed in October and said the administration is aiming for a possible vote in December.
The superintendent described public feedback gathered at a town hall and on social media and laid out three primary mitigation options for families who said staggered start times would conflict with work: alter bus routing to pick students earlier, expect parents to make alternate arrangements, or provide school-based before- and after-school care. “We would simply look at what our cost is and pass that along to the parents, but nothing additional,” Dr. Eloy said of the proposed fee model for after-school care.
Why it matters: The staggered-start plan would change bell times and affect commute patterns for families and staff across the parish. Board members cautioned the change could touch “hundreds of families,” and requested route-level data before taking formal action.
What the district proposed and why: Dr. Eloy said the district listened to board members and the public and will investigate adding Fairview Alpha and Lakeview to the analysis because students in those outlying areas face long bus rides similar to Klutcheyville and Goldonna. The administration also emphasized that in-district employee transfer busing (routing staff between schools) could address scheduling conflicts when staff work at one campus and have children at another.
On childcare, the superintendent proposed offering low-cost, district-run before- and after-school care at schools that would start at the later time (08:15). The program would be limited to a short pre-school window (about one hour before school starts) and a staffed after-school option; the district intends to set fees at or near break-even to cover employee pay and related costs. Dr. Eloy said similar programs in other Louisiana parishes typically charge $50–$70 per month.
Board reaction and next steps: Board members pressed for detailed data on which routes would change, how many students ride early buses and how many families the plan would help or disrupt. One board member said the district has previously provided financial support to the bus contractor and that bus operations should be part of the evaluation. Multiple members supported delaying any vote until December to allow time to gather that information.
On funding: In response to a question about federal support for childcare, Dr. Eloy said federal funds could pay for snacks but that federal funding for after-school programming is allowable only when the programming is linked to an academic component or attendance requirements. “The federal funding would pay for snacks. But, in terms the only way we can provide after-school care through federal funding is when it's connected to an academic piece,” Dr. Eloy said.
What remains unresolved: The board asked the administration to return with route-level counts, numbers of students on early routes, proposals for staffing and cost models for before/after-school care, and options for drop-in care or scholarship support for low-income families. Dr. Eloy reiterated a recommendation against voting before the December meeting to allow time for that data collection and for a more fully fleshed-out mitigation plan.
Future coverage: The district said it will present a firmer proposal next week and a final proposal for a December vote if the board chooses to proceed.
