Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

MONTEREY, La. — The Concordia Parish School Board is scheduled to meet at its regularly scheduled time of 6 p.m. on Thursday at Monterey High School’s old gymnasium at 5920 Hwy 129.

A venue change was recommended by school board member Derrick Carson so that each community the school district serves would have an opportunity to attend school board meetings. The June 12 school board meeting will take place at Ferriday Junior High School at 201 MLK Drive.

The first agenda item of Thursday’s meeting is a public hearing regarding the ad valorem tax levy for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Ad valorem taxes are collected on residents’ homes and business property to fund the school district’s operations. The school board will also consider approving bids for renovations at Ferriday High School and will consider approving the 2025-2026 school year academic calendar.

The calendar issue had been tabled at the last board meeting in April because Superintendent Toyua Bachus, who was unable to attend the meeting, had previously voiced concerns about the district continuing to have four-day work weeks and advocated for the school district to go back to five-day work weeks.

While surveys that were sent out to stakeholders indicated they were in favor of continuing four-day weeks, Bachus said the response rate was low and did not include many responses from parents and students affected by it.

During the April board meeting, Rev. James Lee spoke on behalf of families who are affected by the four-day school weeks that the school board adopted with the last school calendar, saying that students of families who rely on schools for hot meals, social activities and childcare make up the majority of the district.

In addition, the school board will also consider changes to the district flow chart, leasing activity buses, and discuss the lease of the Southern Designs building during Thursday’s meeting.