Zachary School Board accepts bid

ZACHARY — The Zachary Community School Board accepted a $1.6 million bid Thursday to build an addition at Port Hudson Career Academy, the district’s school for students who are behind in their studies or who take courses leading to equivalency diplomas.

Devier Construction LLC submitted the lowest of 10 bids for the project, which will include spaces for vocational training. With equipment, architect’s fees and furniture, the total project’s estimated cost is $1,958,760, Operations Director Scott Devillier said.

Devillier said automotive technical training and welding will be offered, along with a general construction course in the new building. He said the district also is working with Baton Rouge Community College and Georgia-Pacific Corp. to develop a general instrumentation course for the students.

Zachary High School students also could be bused to the site to participate in the vocational courses, he said.

Other topics before the board included:

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH: Advertisements for candidates seeking to become the district’s next superintendent of schools will begin running Sunday, board member Gaynell Young said.

Superintendent Warren Drake is taking a job in the state Education Department on Sept. 1.

Applications from candidates for the post must be postmarked by Aug. 29 or hand-delivered by 4 p.m. on Aug. 29. The application form will be posted on the district’s website, but the applications cannot be submitted online.

The board also set a salary addition of $150 per work day for Gordon Robertson, who will serve as interim superintendent until Drake’s successor is chosen.

ENROLLMENT: Drake reported that 5,358 students attended classes on Thursday, the first day of school. The number is 206 students more than attended on the last day of school in May, he said.

School officials are keeping an eye on bus routes, especially for prekindergarten and kindergarten students, to avoid requiring those students to ride buses for more than an hour.

The younger children ride air-conditioned buses, but additional buses will be added if needed, he said.