Rapide Parish School Board meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Rapides Parish School Board approves budget amendments, construction change orders

The Rapides Parish School Board approved all 15 action items at its Aug. 18 special meeting, including budget amendments for two high school projects and multiple construction change orders. All votes were unanimous, with all nine members present.

Special Board Meeting

The board adopted a resolution authorizing grant agreements with the Rapides Foundation and approved a memorandum of understanding with the Louisiana Department of Education for ACT retests and WorkKeys assessments. It also appointed The Town Talk as the official journal for 2026-2027.

Construction change orders were approved for:

• Pineville Elementary improvements: increased by $31,502 to $1,049,502.
• Buckeye High CTE building: increased by $1,125 to $426,825, with completion extended to Dec. 31, 2026.

The board ratified and confirmed bids for Caroline Dormon Jr. High renovations and Oak Hill chiller replacement, awarding to the lowest responsive bidder. It also authorized advertising for bids for cafeteria equipment and supplies.

Budget amendments were approved for the Tioga High track ($1.4 million) and Pineville High Phase II ($4.7 million).

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee approved all items on its agenda, including two $50,000 inter-fund loans from the General Fund to maintenance funds (District 27 and District 56). It ratified bids for leasing 435 acres of school board property (awarded to the highest bidder) and for purchasing/installing serving lines at multiple schools (awarded to the lowest bidder).

The committee also approved a substitute motion to use District 62 fund balance for air handler replacement at Alexandria Senior High School, which was sent to the full board. Professional services contracts were approved with CAC Consulting Group for ECE fund management, for counseling services at Tioga High School, and with Air Education for high dosage tutoring. All votes were 3-0.

Education Committee

The Education Committee voted 3-0 to send policy revisions to the full board or consent agenda, including school choice (JBCE), special education and discipline policies (IDDF, IDDFC, JGCFA, JGCE, JD). It also approved naming the Caroline Dormon Jr. High School library as the Dr. Gary and Sarah Jones Memorial Library and a new wing as the David C. Bulter, ll and Linda M. Bulter Memorial Wing. No discipline report was presented this month.

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee unanimously voted to receive reports, approve leave requests, and discuss personnel complaints as a single package, sending them to the full board for consent. No other substantive decisions were made.

District 62 Committee

The District 62 Committee received a progress update on the District 62 Bond from Mr. Jeff Powell. The report was informational only; no action was taken.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next two weeks.

Rapides Parish School Board committees weigh $760,000 in cafeteria bids, construction change orders, and dual-enrollment agreements

Rapides Parish School Board committees met July 23, 2026, covering construction spending, personnel, finance, and curriculum items. Because minutes have not yet been published, all items below reflect what was on the agendas; the board has not confirmed final votes or outcomes.

Construction and Facilities

The Special Board agenda included two change orders for approval: Change Order #1 for the Peabody Magnet High School re-roof project at $35,500 and Change Order #4 for LS Rugg Elementary School renovations at $20,984.

The same agenda authorized bids for two larger projects: a re-roof project at Pineville High School estimated at $150,000 and cafeteria serving lines at various schools estimated at $760,000. The board was also scheduled to discuss the North Bayou building purchase agreement and demolition.

The Finance Committee agenda listed a bid award for driveway paving and drainage improvements at Tioga High School at $285,000.

Finance and Technology

The Finance Committee agenda included a three-year renewal agreement for Google Workspace for Education Plus at $96,544. Two inter-fund loans were also listed: $120,000 from the General Fund to the 1967 Sales Tax Fund and $250,000 from the General Fund to the 1987 Sales Tax Fund.

Additional Finance Committee agenda items covered approval of personal services contracts, leases, and the previous month's bills, plus standing reviews of budget updates, audit findings, and construction reports.

Curriculum and Student Programs

The Education Committee agenda included a motion to approve dual-enrollment agreements with NSU, LSUE, SOWELA, CLTCC, TECH, and LCU for the 2026-2027 school year. The committee was also scheduled to discuss and approve the 2026-2027 Pupil Progression Plan and receive the 2026 Summer School report.

A motion to name the Poland Junior High School gymnasium after Mr. Bob Stevens was on the Education Committee agenda. The committee also considered omitting the monthly RAPPS report from the agenda and allowing individual requests instead.

Personnel

The Personnel Committee agenda included review of new hires, promotions, resignations, and retirements, plus approval of leave requests. The committee was scheduled to discuss personnel complaints for potential full board action and to revise the Bus Attendant job description.

District 62 Bond

The District 62 Committee agenda listed a single item: a motion to receive an update on the progress of the District 62 Bond. No votes or decisions were scheduled; this was a report-only item.

Coming Up

The Rapides Parish School Board holds a Regular Board Meeting on August 4, 2026. The agenda includes the 2026-2027 Pupil Progression Plan, dual-enrollment agreements, driveway paving and drainage improvements at Tioga High School for $285,000.00, the Google Workspace for Education Plus renewal for $96,544.00, a Frog Street Press professional services contract for $39,850.00, naming the Poland Junior High School gymnasium after Mr. Bob Stevens, and inter-fund loans from the General Fund to Sales Tax Fund 025 ($120,000) and Sales Tax Fund 026 ($250,000).