Lafourche school improvement bond to go before voters July 21

Lafourche Parish voters will decide the fate of school board construction upgrades in a special election July 21.

The school board approved a $49.8 million bond issue for additional school improvements last Wednesday night. Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews said this is the third and final phase for facility improvements.

More than a decade ago, the parish began upgrading the parish schools. The cost of phases two and three totaled $90 million.

Matthews said previously-approved bonds have paid for dozen of improvements to the parish school board facilities, including a new $8.1 million dollar school, Bayou Blue Middle.

School board spokesman Don Gaudet said phase three includes a new vocational/technology facility, a new “cafetorium” at Thibodaux Elementary School, and building expansions at Cut Off Elementary School, which would eliminate the need for several portable classrooms.

“We would like to start working on school improvements as quickly as possible. We want to make sure that that goes done in a timely manner,” Matthews said.

Hugh Martin, a bonding attorney with New Orleans firm Foley and Judell, said Lafourche had gone many years without school improvements, dating back to the early 1970s, prior to the recent work.

After renewing the 17-mill property tax in 1995 to pay for the bonds, rising property values have allowed the parish to continue to fund school improvements, pay off debts and avoid raising the tax rate, Martin said.

IN OTHER ACTION

The following is a rundown of the action taken by the Lafourche Parish School Board April 4. Only one board member was absent District 13 board member Al Archer. All decisions were unanimous, unless otherwise noted.

• Agreed to revisit the Energy Education proposal around the first of next year.

• Agreed to give the superintendent the authority to negotiate a purchase with the property owners of 131 School Lane in Thibodaux.

• Agreed to give the superintendent the authority to sign a Joint Permit Application for the proposed well canal closure located in the Bayou Raphael, section 16.

• Agreed to give the school board attorney Pat Amedee the authority to proceed with litigation pursuant in the matter of Lafourche Parish School Board versus Whitson.

• Agreed to allow the school board attorney to contact Center Court Tennis and Track, LLC concerning a breach of contract to repair tracks at the three high schools.

• Agreed to allow the school board attorney to notify and meet with the individual owners of the campsites that are located on school property.

• Approved an additional 65 days for roof replacement at South Lafourche High School.

• Authorized the purchase of two new breakers in the amount of $18,000 due to an emergency situation at Larose Upper Elementary School.

• Agreed to consult the board attorney as to his legal recommendation for how many days should be given for Lamar Construction to complete the Bayou Blue Elementary project.

• Accepted E.A. Angelloz;s cost estimate for masonry repairs and water proofing at Thibodaux Elementary School, and to advertise the project for bids.

• Accepted the credit change order for Bayou Blue Middle School electrical work in the amount of $17,622.

• Approved an additional 38 days to Eagle Electric for each Technology Infrastructure project at Raceland Middle School and W.S. Lafargue Elementary School.

• Approved a maximum amount for termite repairs at Raceland Upper Elementary School by B.E.T Construction.

• Approved a change order for $18,549.30 to paint the interior walls of the classrooms at Raceland Upper Elementary School that were not in the original contract by B.E.T Construction.

• Agreed to create a second transportation secretary position, and authorized advertisement to fill position.

• Approved to give the superintendent authorization to enter in a Memorandum of Agreement for each of the three high schools to provide a location for a Point of Dispensing site to the Department of Health and Hospitals.

• Adopted a resolution to open sealed bids received by Parke Energy LLC for an oil, gas and mineral lease covering all of Section 16, Township 21 South, Range 22 East, which contains 523 acres.

• Assigned committee members to serve on the Pupil Progression Plan “Advisory Committee for Parents” for the 2007-2008 school session. They are: Curtis Labat, Melinda Baronne, Amanda Eymard, Dawn Cheramie, Fay LaFont, Melissa Richoux, Michele Danos, Monica Hoffpauir, Francis Kouame, Cynthia Johnson, Mandy Plaisance, Kim Boudreaux, Cherie Voisin, Gwen Theriot, Stephen Morris, Nicole Pitre, Celima Louviere, Shandra Streams and Phyllis Prince.

• Reappointed Janice Vega to serve on the Board of Commissioners for Special Education District No. 1 for a full six-year term

• Authorized bids on the official journal to serve the Lafourche Parish School Board for one year.

• Agreed to declare certain vehicle equipment as surplus property, and authorize the advertisements of bids on the surplus property. Setting a deadline for receipt bids on April 30.

• Accepted Memorial Resolutions for Brian Morris, a student at Central Lafourche High School; Ivan Tillman Gaines Jr., a student at East Thibodaux Middle School; Ruby Jean Sadler, a retired teacher and Clothilde Fayette, a retired food service technician.

• Declared employment vacancies at Lockport Middle School for principal position, and Sixth Ward Middle School for assistant principal position.

• Approved the observance of Administrative Professional Week as April 22-28, and Teacher Appreciation Week as May 6-12.