By Pat Culverhouse
Webster Parish School Board members will apparently try again to get voters in Consolidated School District (CSD) 3 (south Webster) to approve a proposal to rededicate property tax funds.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Superintendent Johnny Rowland introduced an agenda item giving notice that the board will consider adopting a resolution a its Aug. 3 meeting which would put the proposal to the voters again in November.
Voters in CSD 3 said no by an overwhelming 64-36 margin on June 27 to the proposition that would have rededicated funds from an existing 25-plus mill property tax. Purpose of rededicating the funds had been explained only as “to provide additional support to schools in the district.”
CSD 3 schools include Lakeside Jr/Sr High School and Central Elementary.
“We want to bring back the proposal that was defeated in June, but this time we think we need to be more specific about the intent,” Rowland said. “If we are more specific about where the money goes, I believe the results will be much different.”
Rowland said the proposal did not seek to increase the existing millage rate, but would only redirect funds to include items such as pay for school resource officers.
“I think once the people know exactly where the money will be going, like for school resource officer pay, I think they will be supportive,” he said.
In addition to the CSD 3 proposal, voters in June soundly defeated another put forward by the school board. A proposed one percent sales tax for the Webster Parish School Board Educational Facilities Improvement District failed, with 70 percent of the voters saying no. The 20-year tax would have provided additional funding for the public school system.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the board also:
- Adopted millage rates for 2026.
- Approved resolution for canvassing returns and declaring results of special election held in Consolidated School District 3 on June 27.
- Approved revisions of Special Education several job descriptions to ensure alignment with current professional terminology, qualifications and discipline-specific standards.
- Entered executive session to discuss lawsuit.
Board members approved, in globo, payments of invoices totaling $816,520.54 covering maintenance and repairs in the various districts. Those include:
- Consolidated Dist. 3 Maintenance Fund: $221,525.44. Total includes $90,835.52 for four SMART Interactive Panel, three Asus laptops and 150 Chromebooks for Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $42,639.90 to purchase 18 new cameras and equipment for sports facilities at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $15,680 to purchase 230 student subscriptions at Lakeside Jr/Sr High for ELA interventions; $15,214.57 to install/upgrade eight cameras at Central Elementary; $12,600 to install new air conditioning unit in baseball/softball locker room at Lakeside Jr/Sr High; $8,850 to spray foam insulation in livestock barn at Lakeside Jr/Sr High.
- District 6 One-half Cent Sales Tax Fund: $423,057.32. Major payments were $119,580 to prime and paint interior walls and resurface floors at J.L. Jones Elementary; $75,739.60 to remove existing ramps and awnings, pour new concrete to set new ramps and awnings to four T-buildings at Richardson Elementary; $40,803.80 to install security cameras at Minden High football stadium; $37,828 to purchase seven Promethean AcivPanels for Richardson Elementary; $23,500 to add additional parking spaces with bumpers at Richardson Elementary; $20,250 to add additional parking spaces with bumpers at Phillips Elementary; $19,950 for site adaptation for modular classroom buildings at J.A. Phillips Elementary.
- Cotton Valley Maintenance Fund: $27,207.80 includes $26,017.80 to purchase 60 Chromebook’s for North Webster Upper Elementary, and $1,190 for parts for HVAC system at North Webster Upper Elementary.
- Doyline Maintenance Fund: $21,834.70. Top payment is $15,030.70 for technology items including Smart panel, charging stations and laptops plus extended warranty for Doyline High.
- Sarepta Maintenance Fund: $72,868.93. Payments include $29,134.20 to purchase 60 Chromebooks for North Webster High; $15,181.92 to replace damaged fire system at North Webster Jr. High; $11,439.56 to purchase helmets and shoulder pads for North Webster Jr. High; $8,400 for various parts for HVAC system at North Webster Jr. High.
• Springhill Maintenance Fund: $50,026.35. Major payments include $22,420 to add parking area at North Webster High for buses and additional parking; $9,965.24 to install video intercom system and door keypad reader at Brown Upper Elementary; $8,870.61 to update existing and install additional cameras inside and outside school at Browning Elementary.