NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Natchitoches Parish School Board discussed updates to the district’s Smart Steps program, transportation operations, early childhood services, sales tax collections and several policy and financial matters during its meeting on Tuesday.
During his superintendent’s report, Superintendent Grant Eloi updated the board on the district’s use of digital payments. He said the district would continue to utilize digital payments as an option for day-to-day school activities and athletic events. Principals and secretaries have been informed that a cash option should always be available. The district doesn’t want to lose people because of convenience fees.
The board also received an update on the district’s Smart Steps program, which is designed for kindergarten through second-grade students with behavioral needs. The program was described as a Tier 3 intervention focused on helping students develop social, coping and self-regulation skills. Students could be referred by principals to the district’s student services team, which would review intervention data before determining eligibility.
The program was expected to last a minimum of 45 days, with individual goals established for students. Students would transition back to their regular classrooms gradually rather than returning immediately after completing the program. District officials emphasized that Smart Steps was not intended to be a punitive alternative school. Instead, it was designed to address behavior in developmentally appropriate ways and change the trajectory of students’ educational careers.
Read more from the Natchitoches Parish Journal here.