Winn Parish School Board adopts 2025-26 consolidated budget, sets millage and approves salary, insurance and construction actions

The Winn Parish School Board met Sept. 2 in Winnfield and took a series of fiscal and personnel actions, adopting the 2025-26 consolidated budget and approving property tax millage rates for the 2025 tax roll.

Mrs. Jennifer Vidrine presented the proposed 2025-26 Winn Parish Consolidated Budget; on a motion by Mrs. Joe Llaine Long and a second by Mr. Steve Vines, the board adopted the budget for 2025-26.

The board then considered a resolution to set millage rates for tax year 2025. Mrs. Lacey McManus offered the resolution, which Mrs. Michelle Carpenter seconded. The resolution lists the following levies on the 2025 tax roll: Constitutional Tax 4.93 mills; Additional Aids Tax 7.57 mills; Parishwide Maintenance Tax 9.25 mills; Winnfield District No. 5 Maintenance Tax 3.11 mills; Consolidated District No. 11 Maintenance Tax 3.44 mills; and a Consolidated No. 11 sinking fund levy of 15.00 mills. The roll call recorded all members as voting "yea," with no nays or abstentions; the resolution was certified and signed by Secretary Alfred L. Simmons and President Joe Lynn Browning.

The board amended the 2025-26 Winn Parish Salary Schedule to include legislative stipends and differentiated compensation on a motion by Mrs. Joe Llaine Long, seconded by Mr. Steve Vines. The record states legislative stipends will be awarded to employees who are employed as of Oct. 1, 2025, and that certificated employees who meet BESE-defined "Critical Shortage" criteria would receive differentiated compensation at the end of the school year if approved by the board.

On insurance matters, Mr. Andre Comeaux of McGriff Insurance had briefed the Finance and Budget Committee on upcoming renewals. The board approved renewals for general liability, auto, errors and omissions, and crime bond coverage on a motion by Mrs. Lacey McManus and a second by Mrs. Michelle Carpenter. Separately, the board authorized the superintendent to sign the required Louisiana uninsured/underinsured motorist form rejecting uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for the 2025-26 commercial automobile insurance period, on a motion by Mrs. McManus and a second by Ms. Carpenter.

The board also approved advertising for bids for the Dodson Parking Lot construction on a motion by Mr. Lance Underwood, seconded by Mr. Patrick Howell.

In academic and personnel business, Mrs. Nancy Crain presented the Winn Parish Pupil Progression Plan for 2025-26; the board adopted the plan on a motion by Mrs. Joe Llaine Long and a second by Mr. Patrick Howell. The board adopted updated Winn Parish job descriptions on a motion by Mrs. Michelle Carpenter, seconded by Mr. Lance Underwood.

Secretary Alfred L. Simmons reported personnel changes for September: hiring Lydia Bedgood as a paraprofessional at Winnfield Primary School; transferring Kenya Evans from WMS Food Service Manager to Winnfield Senior High School Food Service Manager; listing resignations from Jaime Clark, Lauren Hanson and Hope Reed; and reporting the death of Tremelda Pattain. Mrs. Jennifer Vidrine presented a General Fund budget-to-actual report for Aug. 31, 2025. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Votes at a glance

- Adopted: Winn Parish School Board Consolidated Budget 2025-26 (motion: Mrs. Joe Llaine Long; second: Mr. Steve Vines). Outcome: approved. - Adopted: 2025 millage rates resolution (offered: Mrs. Lacey McManus; second: Mrs. Michelle Carpenter). Outcome: approved by recorded roll call; YEAS: Michelle Carpenter, Amber Cox, Lacey McManus, Joe Llaine Long, Dan Taylor, Joe Lynn Browning, Steve Vines, Patrick Howell, Harry Scott, Lance Underwood, Carnesha Willis; NAYS: none; ABSTAINED: none. - Adopted: Amendment to 2025-26 Winn Parish Salary Schedule to include Legislative Stipends and Differentiated Compensation (motion: Mrs. Joe Llaine Long; second: Mr. Steve Vines). Outcome: approved. - Adopted: Insurance renewals for General Liability, Auto, E/O Coverage and Crime Bond (motion: Mrs. Lacey McManus; second: Mrs. Michelle Carpenter). Outcome: approved. - Authorized: Superintendent to sign Louisiana uninsured/underinsured motorist form reflecting rejection of coverage for 2025-26 (motion: Mrs. Lacey McManus; second: Mrs. Michelle Carpenter). Outcome: authorized. - Authorized: Advertise for bids for Dodson Parking Lot construction (motion: Mr. Lance Underwood; second: Mr. Patrick Howell). Outcome: authorized. - Adopted: Winn Parish Pupil Progression Plan 2025-26 (motion: Mrs. Joe Llaine Long; second: Mr. Patrick Howell). Outcome: approved. - Adopted: Winn Parish Job Descriptions as presented (motion: Mrs. Michelle Carpenter; second: Mr. Lance Underwood). Outcome: approved.

Key details and next steps

- Legislative stipends: The amendment specifies stipends will be awarded to employees employed as of Oct. 1, 2025; implementation details and disbursement guidelines were noted as forthcoming and require administrative action to execute. - Differentiated compensation: Certificated employees meeting BESE "Critical Shortage" definitions would receive compensation at the end of the school year if the Board continues to approve the implementation details. - Capital procurement: The Dodson Parking Lot will move to the public-bid stage; no contract award was made at this meeting.

(Reporting based solely on remarks and motions recorded in the Winn Parish School Board minutes for the Sept. 2, 2025 meeting.)