Public input sought on Lafourche school building plan

The Lafourche Parish School Board is seeking public input on its proposal to improve parish public schools. Meetings will be held May 7 at South Lafourche High School Library; May 8 at Central Lafourche High School Auditorium; and May 9 at Thibodaux High School Auditorium. All forums will begin at 6 p.m.

The school construction plans date back to 1995, when the board first began developing a plan to enhance its facilities. During the same time, the district passed a one-cent sales tax mileage for employee salaries, textbooks, and technology.

According to school board spokesman Floyd Benoit, prior to the vote several forums were held to survey those living in the school district for input. Based on that feedback, parish administrators presented voters with a construction proposal.

Lafourche voters were asked in 1995 to renew a 17-mill property tax for the purpose of selling bonds in the amount of $44 million to renovate and expand three high schools, Benoit said. With the support of the parish, Benoit said Phase I was off and running.

Six years later, the parish school board approached the public again seeking renewal of the same 17-mills to improve the parish’s middle and elementary schools.

When the system was ready to acquire land to build a school and playgrounds in 2003, Benoit said the public OK’d the issuance of $50 million worth of bonds.

“The improvements for the middle school are still ongoing and the school district still has $13.4 million left to complete Phase II,” Benoit said.

Nearly a decade after the improvement plan kicked off, the school district is in the planning stage of Phase III, which includes additional renovations to the parish schools.

“We are in the final phase of this unprecedented period in the history of the Lafourche Parish School System,” said Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews. “We have received a needs assessment from a local architectural firm that outlines the priorities for school renovations, along with input from employees, students, parents and citizens.”

Benoit said the school board is considering conducting an election this summer to sell bonds to finance Phase III of construction.