A Caddo Parish School Board building-and-grounds committee recommended the board authorize purchase agreements for about 68 acres of contiguous land—Lot 1 from Louisiana Tech (29.67 acres) and three lots from the Greater Shreveport Chamber (38.71 acres)—to host a planned career and technology center. Staff outlined pricing, in‑kind partnership terms and funding sources.
Staff recommended a one-year extension of Brown Taylor Development LLC’s Northside purchase contract and asked for an additional $12,656.26 nonrefundable deposit (to be released to the district). The committee discussed whether to bring a preemptive recommendation to the board or present the matter without recommendation.
The Caddo Parish School Board on Dec. 16 approved memoranda of understanding with the Shreveport Police Department and a sheriff’s office, despite a board member warning the agreements risked "a slippery slope" for teachers’ cellphone and Wi‑Fi privacy; both measures passed with nine votes.
Don Little was elected president of the Caddo Parish School Board on Dec. 16 with nine votes. In his first remarks he emphasized preparing the district for artificial intelligence, building a career and technology center, optimizing facilities, and securing permanent raises for educators and staff.
Public commenter John Glover told the Caddo Parish School Board that shifting to Blue Advantage as his primary insurer could leave his supplemental coverage unclear and a potential 20% coverage gap; staff offered to have insurance representatives meet with him after the meeting.
The committee reviewed proposed academic calendars and debated whether parent‑teacher conferences at semester boundaries are useful. Members also pressed staff on whether central‑office and non‑teaching staff must take leave during scheduled school breaks; staff said district practice mirrors other K–12 districts and site‑level exceptions exist.
The Caddo Parish School Board executive committee discussed a recommended award for a districtwide network electronics RFP covering about 203 switches and 223 wireless access points. Staff said E‑Rate would fund about 85% with a projected district share of $440,850.54; board members probed integration and scoring differences.
District staff described Lightspeed monitoring and a linked anonymous reporting app required by state law and proposed MOUs with law‑enforcement partners; staff said a grant could fund about $1,000,000 for the program but board members raised questions about data scope, confidentiality and false reports.
During public comment at the Caddo Parish School Board ad hoc committee, contractors described insurance, bonding and timing barriers and one contractor alleged a long-term racial disparity in award patterns; committee members asked staff for historical participation data and procurement records.
The Caddo Parish School Board formed an ad hoc committee to review contracts, procurement rules and the Opportunity Caddo vendor program with the aim of keeping more tax dollars in Caddo Parish; staff cautioned state bid law limits and promised data and policy options for the committee to consider.
