DeSoto Parish School District

The meeting began with monthly recognitions, including Support Staff, Teacher, New Teacher, and Leader of the Month. The DeSoto Strong Attendance Cup for December was awarded to Mansfield Middle School (96.52%), and the You Matter Attendance Cup was awarded to Logansport High School (96.24%) for attendance efforts. Student learning was summarized regarding Zearn Math platform usage. Key agenda items included the election of Bobby Boyd as President and Dudley Glenn as Vice-President for 2026. The Finance & Operations Committee for 2026 was appointed, with Mr. Dufour as Chairperson. The schedule for regular and committee meetings for 2026 was established. The Board accepted certification that all members received required training for 2025, and a proclamation for Louisiana School Board Recognition Month was presented. Action items approved from the Finance & Operations Committee included approving the insurance vesting schedule, a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office for property, and budget revisions to Capital Projects Funds. The Board also approved the IDDFC policy regarding cameras in Special Education Classrooms. Superintendent comments addressed recent legal changes in the desegregation order and the continued focus on students.

The Finance & Operations Committee meeting addressed several financial and operational matters. Key discussions included an update on sales tax receipts for November 2025, showing a decrease compared to the previous year. Updates were provided on self-funded insurance plans, detailing medical revenues and claims activity for December 2025, which indicated a gain in the hospitalization fund but a loss in the dental fund. The committee reviewed grant reimbursement requests, noting the outstanding amounts. The Operations Report presented statistics on work orders for Maintenance, Technology, and Transportation departments for December 2025, along with food service meal counts and updates on ongoing construction projects. The committee unanimously approved revised language for the 2025-26 salary schedule. The Superintendent informed attendees about daily parent notifications regarding severe cold conditions and announced a future work session. Finally, the committee reviewed and approved the monthly cash disbursement check register and budget to actual report.

The agenda for the regular session includes several action items, such as revisions to the agenda and approval of the minutes from the January 8, 2026 meeting. The Finance & Operations Committee report requires review and approval of minutes from its January 22, 2026 meeting, followed by the approval of a revised salary schedule for the 2025-2026 year. Additionally, several policies are presented for review, covering topics from Board Committees and Purchasing to Employee Conduct and Behavioral Health Support for Students. Key action items involve considering approval for the revised instructional calendar for the 2025-2026 school year and the instructional calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The meeting will also feature recognition for Support Staff, Teachers, and Principal of the Year, as well as reports on attendance awards.

The meeting commenced with an invocation, including remembrance for the Coburn family, a former maintenance department retiree. The agenda featured recognition of Students of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year across elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as honoring the December Employees of the Month (Support Staff, Teacher, and Leader). The November attendance challenge winners were also celebrated, noting that the district surpassed its goal of 95% attendance, achieving 96% for November. Financial matters included the approval of minutes from a previous session and the Finance and Operations Committee report, which involved authorizing the sale of a southwest property and approving a $1,500 one-time supplement for eligible current employees, payable by December 18th. Public comment focused heavily on the recent transition of Medicare supplement plans for retirees from UMR to the Human Group Advantage Plan, citing concerns over access to care, lack of transparency, and insufficient notice. Policy items included approval of policies related to the education of students with exceptionalities and a review of the policy concerning Body Worn Cameras in classrooms. Additionally, an informational report was presented regarding the district's recent 'A' rating and school performance scores for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Finance Committee Meeting included updates on several financial and operational matters. Sales tax receipts for November were reviewed, showing a decrease compared to the previous year but remaining above budget projections. Reports on self-funded insurance plans for December indicated a monthly gain in medical plans despite a year-to-date loss, with medical claims down 25%; the dental plan also showed a monthly loss with claims down 8%. Reimbursement grant reports indicated delays pending the approval of a budget revision. Operationally, updates covered preparations for impending cold weather by shutting off water to non-main campus buildings, and reports on technology service requests and transportation efficiency. Food services noted a slight dip in meal counts due to illness in December. Project updates included successful occupancy at Loganport, temporary occupancy at Mansfield High School, progress on baseball/softball facility repairs, and planning for summer interior gutting at the middle section of Lower. Additionally, the committee reviewed and approved a revised salary schedule for 2025-2026 to correct discrepancies related to the change in the performance pay scale.