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Tensas Parish School Board approves $8,000 visa support, crisis plan and multiple routine items
Summary
At its Nov. 13 meeting in St. Joseph, the Tensas Parish School Board approved an $8,000 district contribution to support two employees' H‑1B visa costs, adopted the 2025–26 Crisis Management Plan, authorized up to $15,000 for THS sign repairs, and set the differentiated compensation payment to be paid in January; vote tallies were not specified in the transcript.
The Tensas Parish School Board on Nov. 13, 2025 in St. Joseph approved a package of routine actions that included district support for two employees' H‑1B visas, adoption of the district crisis plan, and facilities and pay‑related decisions.
In the meeting called to order by President John L. Turner, board members voted to provide a district cost contribution totaling $8,000 to support two employees identified in the transcript as Mr. Plata and Mrs. Rodreguiez to obtain H‑1B visas. George Matthews moved the motion and Annice Miller seconded; the motion passed. The transcript records the names and total amount as stated above; the document does not provide first names for the employees or further identifying details, and spellings are recorded as in the transcript.
The board also approved the district’s 2025–2026 Crisis Management Plan. George Matthews moved the plan’s approval and Jennifer Burnside seconded; the motion passed. The plan approval is recorded as a formal action in the minutes; the transcript does not include a summary of plan contents.
On facilities, the board authorized sign repair at THS by Southern Signs, not to exceed $15,000. The motion was offered by George Matthews and seconded by Annice Miller; the motion passed. The transcript does not specify whether the procurement will follow a formal bid process or whether Southern Signs is a sole source vendor.
On compensation, the board approved that the differentiated compensation payment will be paid in January. Annice Miller moved the motion and Jennifer Burnside seconded; the motion passed. The transcript does not state the total dollar amount of the differentiated compensation payment.
The board also received the October financial statement and a budget‑to‑actual update (motion by Annice Miller, seconded by George Matthews) and approved the first reading of multiple policy revisions, including FILE: GAAA (Equal Opportunity Employment), IDDF (Education of Students with Exceptionalities), IDDFC (Special Education Audio/Video Recording), JAA (Equal Education Opportunities), JD (Discipline) and JDA (Corporal Punishment). George Matthews moved the first reading and Annice Miller seconded; the transcript records the first reading but not a final adoption vote.
Where the minutes record that motions "passed," the transcript does not provide vote tallies or roll‑call results; those counts are not specified in the meeting text. The meeting adjourned after Superintendent Joyce M. Russ’s announcements. "Thank you all for attending tonight’s meeting and supporting our students," Superintendent Russ said.
Next procedural steps are not detailed in the transcript: the crisis plan was approved as presented (no amendments recorded), the policy revisions were approved only for first reading, and procurement details for the THS sign repair were not specified.
