Lafourche to install metal detectors

In the wake of May’s school shooting at Larose-Cut Off Middle School, the Lafourche Parish School Board unanimously approved the installation of more metal detectors at a recent meeting.

Nearly $15,000 from the Siemens Construction Fund will go to pay for the installation of the detectors at all Lafourche Parish middle schools, high schools and the two Positive Action School Sites (PASS).

The funds pay for both the walk-through detectors and hand-held wands that will be used to search students, according to administrators.

Also at the meeting, former Larose-Cut Off Elementary employee Franky LeBlanc was hired as the new assistant principal of Bayou Blue Middle School, replacing Timothy Long, who is now principal at Golden Meadow Lower Elementary.

LeBlanc served the Lafourche Parish School Board for eight years as administrative assistant at LCO Elementary.

“I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity,” LeBlanc told the board. “I appreciate Mr. Matt Hodsen for hiring me at LCO and giving me that chance. I’m looking forward to it.”

In other board news, the board unanimously elected to replace all of the door locks at Larose Upper Elementary in a security-related project.

In addition, $1.3 million was allocated to repair hurricane damage at Larose Lower Elementary that was discovered by workers working on the hurricane-damaged roof. School board officials said they discovered more damage inside the walls while doing work on the roof.

Because of the damage, B.E.T. Construction needed an extra 30 days and $51,650 for the repair.

Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews was given permission to spend an additional $20,000 if more damage is discovered.