Board approves property sale, busing RFP and E‑Rate advertising; adopts calendar and canvasses bond vote
Summary
At its Dec. 9 meeting the Natchitoches Parish School Board approved the sale of school property (retaining mineral rights), authorized a busing RFP for the 2026–27 year, approved permission to advertise E‑Rate bids, adopted a Tuesday/Tuesday meeting calendar with a January tweak, and canvassed a Nov. 15 bond election.
The Natchitoches Parish School Board handled multiple routine governance and procurement items at its Dec. 9 meeting.
The board approved a resolution to sell school board property (noting the district retains mineral rights). The board also authorized the release of a request for proposals for busing services for the 2026–27 school year; staff said the RFP will be posted on the central bidding platform and that several large bus companies (including Echo and First Student) have indicated interest. The board approved the motion to advertise e‑rate network equipment and services for a five‑year period (FY2026–2031), which staff described as locking prices for networking equipment over that term.
Board members voted to keep the Tuesday/Tuesday meeting calendar for 2027, with staff to consider a minor January scheduling amendment to accommodate a holiday week and the process of electing the next board president. The board also approved a resolution canvassing returns of the Nov. 15, 2025 special election that authorized general‑obligation bonds for consolidated school district No. 11.
Roll-call votes were taken for the property sale, the busing RFP authorization and the e‑rate advertising permission; each motion passed during the meeting.
No additional substantive contract awards were finalized at the meeting: staff said the busing RFP will be evaluated and an award will be brought to the board in February according to the RFP timeline.
