RPSB to send Bolton changes, school bus concerns to committee meetings

RAPIDES PARISH, La. (KALB) - The Rapides Parish School Board will discuss the changes affecting Bolton and concerns over school bus drivers at the board’s committee meeting. This comes after board member Sandra Franklin raised concerns over the historical aspects of the school and created a substitute motion to continue with renovations of the school minus the windows.

That motion was erased after the board’s finance director Elizabeth Domite advised the board that another bid would have to be made if the windows were to be taken out. The school board voted last month to establish the Bolton magnet school option, starting from grades 6-12 in the 2024-25 school year, and allowing Pre-K-12 the following school year.

Board member Sandra Franklin raised concern over the magnet school’s logistics.

“We’ll see what this first year brings, and I think the opportunity will be for us to evaluate more closely,” said Franklin. “What I’m most concerned about is who will be the person leading that organization. That is paramount for the success of that program, for that school to go forward.”

The board also discussed the motion to review the possibility of having bus drivers on stand-by to address the availability due to the nature of call-ins, so that students and parents will not be responsible for finding their own transportation. That motion was also sent to committee meetings.

“I’m so glad the superintendent is looking at ways of having someone available as a stand-by,” said Franklin. “We’re looking forward to those reports in our September committee.

At the conclusion of tonight’s meeting, no decisions were made on either Bolton High School or the school bus situation. Instead, the board will discuss these motions further at the committee meetings on September 19.

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