District overview
Catahoula Parish School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
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Who runs Catahoula Parish schools, and how they are paid for
Catahoula Parish School District runs three schools: Block High School (grades 6-12) and Jonesville Elementary (Pre-K-5) in Jonesville, and Harrisonburg High School (K-12) in Harrisonburg. A nine-member elected school board, one member per district, sets policy and the budget and hires the superintendent. In 2026 the board chose a new superintendent, Cari Ann Nicholson, who became interim superintendent October 1, 2026 and takes over fully January 1, 2027. Money comes mostly from the state formula (about $6.1 million), local sales and property taxes (about $5.7 million) and federal grants (about $3.0 million).
Nine elected members
Dewey Stockman is president and Tonya Pardue vice president. Laine Neal was appointed to District 6 in February 2026.
Superintendent change
Johnnie Adams is being succeeded by Cari Ann Nicholson, picked 8-2-1 in August and given a contract 6-2 in September.
Local taxes matter
The board rolled property-tax millage forward to the legal maximum in September 2026 and pays excess sales-tax money to staff as a '13th check'.
Shrinking parish
A 2024 consultant study expects enrollment to keep slipping as the parish population falls.
The 2026-27 budget is balanced with a surplus and growing reserves. Many leadership votes were unanimous, and the board's split votes (layoffs, superintendent contract) were still recorded openly by roll call.
Where the district stands
Revenue is planned at $15,053,500.
Up from $1,775,351 at the start of the year.
Context: $14,577,880 divided by 983 students (NCES enrollment in our queue data); actual 2026-27 enrollment was not in the collected records.
Major projects
Superintendent transition
in progressThe board ran a search, interviewed three finalists and hired Cari Ann Nicholson.
- Search process approved
- Nicholson selected
- Contract approved; interim start set
- Interim superintendent begins
Funding
General fund (contract terms not in collected records)
5-year strategic plan
in progressConsultants from Attuned met with staff to build a five-year plan; the board heard an update in January 2026.
- Planning work under way
- Update presented to board
Funding
Not stated
School safety upgrades
in progressA $63,561 safety fence at Harrisonburg High (with a $50,000 grant) and a $50,000 safety grant for Jonesville Elementary.
- HHS fence approved
- JES safety grant approved
Funding
State safety grants plus school funds
November 2026 school board election
scheduledSchool board seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the full candidate list is not confirmed.
- Qualifying closed
Funding
Parish election costs
Recent news
All board agendas and minutes posted in the district's public Google Drive from November 2025 to October 2026 were read in full, plus the 2026-27 budget summary, Pupil Progression Plan, district and school handbooks, enrollment projections and charter application notice.
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