Big changes coming for Natchitoches Parish students next year

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS)- The Natchitoches parish school board closed two schools. Goldonna Elementary and Natchitoches Jr. High will both be closed next year and students will be moved to other schools.

The closing of the Red River Mill and losing its tax income to the school district was one of the deciding factors, also the condition of the Jr. High was another.

Two board members said they never wanted to vote to close schools however the economic climate and changes coming to the Department of Education forced them to vote in favor of the closures.

District 2 board member Ta ‘Keia Palmer wanted the vote on the Jr. High School to be postponed until as she said a clear plan was in place. She went on to say, “We still going to just have a school sitting there with lights on that we still putting money into, we still paying people to go over and take care of it, but we don’t have any students in it. It doesn’t make sense.”

Below is a chart provided by the school district on how students will be relocated.