Board moves lease recommendation for 642 acres to full board after market‑rate discussion

The St. Landry Parish School Board discussed options for a 642‑acre hunting lease in Section 16 and voted to send a recommendation on minimum bidding to the full board.

Board members reviewed the lease history, noting it began at $17 per acre, rose to $19, and was operating under a three‑year term. A board member who presented the lease history recommended putting the property up for competitive bids with a minimum per‑acre starting figure to attract bidders while protecting district value: “My recommendation would be that the board… put it up for bid with a minimum of, say, 20 and $22 an acre and go from there,” one presenter said.

Members debated the appropriate floor. Some pushed for a higher minimum — $25 per acre was discussed as a figure that would yield a total bid near $16,200 — while others urged staff to gather market comparables before finalizing the number. One board member said market variability is wide and that “the free market will prevail” if the district advertises the parcel broadly; others warned that many private leases are informal cash arrangements that are difficult to benchmark.

A motion to bring the recommended change (including the $25 per‑acre minimum discussed during the meeting) to the full board was made and seconded. The chair called for a voice vote; members answered “aye,” and the motion passed by voice vote to be considered by the full board.

Next steps: the item will be presented to the full board for formal bidding instructions and a final vote on the minimum bid and solicitation schedule.