Soda Prairie School Board honors state wrestling champions, approves small budget transfer and Title I family-engagement policy

The Soda Prairie School Board on April 9 recognized student and staff achievements and approved several routine governance items, including a small budget division to the debt service fund and the district’s Parent and Family Engagement policy.

Superintendent Courville introduced the recognitions, honoring three DeSoto High students who won LHSAA Division II non‑select state wrestling championships. The board presented certificates to the students and congratulated coaches and families.

Coach Thomas praised support staff honoree Paulette Taylor of Mansfield High School, saying, “She is without a doubt an angel that God placed right here at MHS,” and thanked her for daily service to students and staff. The board also recognized Misty Junkin, a pre‑K teacher at North DeSoto Lower Elementary, Bridget Bain, a new teacher at North DeSoto Upper Elementary, and Ronnie Ward Tondreau, counselor at LHS, as monthly honorees. Attendance awards went to schools posting 96 percent and higher rates for March, including a 97.4 percent winner and Northwood Middle School at 96.8 percent.

On procedural business, Mr. Kohler asked the board to approve the minutes. Coach Marbury moved to approve the minutes; Ms. Thomas seconded the motion, which the board approved unanimously. Mr. Dufour reported the Finance & Operations Committee meeting of March 19; the board approved the committee minutes and then approved one budget division to the district’s debt service fund as presented. The motions were made, seconded, and carried unanimously.

Mrs. Flanders presented the district’s Parent and Family Engagement policy (IFD), which she said is intended to meet the outlines required by Title I federal programs and is reviewed periodically. The board moved, seconded, and voted to keep the current IFD policy as presented, passing unanimously.

Mr. Corley reviewed two additional policies for board review — BC, which updates the meeting location/address and committee naming, and FDC, a more detailed facilities‑naming policy — and asked members to send revisions before those items return for approval in May. Mr. Corley also reviewed updates to the transfer residency verification procedure, asking board members to review the draft and expect it back in May for action.

Superintendent Courville closed with announcements about recognition weeks (assistant principals, paraprofessionals, librarians), upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week, testing season, recent quarterly data reviews with principals, and spring sports, thanking trustees who attended the Louisiana School Boards Association conference.

The board did not take up contested or controversial issues at this session; all motions recorded in the meeting passed unanimously. The board is scheduled to revisit the reviewed policies and the residency verification procedure at the May meeting.