New school buildings accepted

LIVINGSTON — The Livingston Parish School Board accepted as substantially complete the Denham Springs High School science and technology building and the Freshman High School cafeteria and science building.

Both facilities went into service for the first time when the new academic year began this week.

During Thursday’s School Board meeting, board member Buddy Mincey Jr. called both projects important milestones in upgrading the two schools.

The 22,000-square-foot Denham Springs High addition was built at a cost of about $3.4 million.

The board named it the Coach Louis “Loody” Carlisle Building in honor of the late Livingston Parish educator and School Board member.

Mincey read a proclamation praising Carlisle, who served on the School Board from 1987 to 2010, for his years as coach, athletic director and principal at Denham Springs High .

The new 25,000-square-foot building at Denham Springs Freshman High School was constructed at a cost of about $3.4 million.

Other matters taken up by the board included:

NEW CONSTRUCTION: The board unanimously approved a change order setting the final projected cost of the new Live Oak High School, now nearing completion, at $23.374 million.

Board President Malcolm Sibley said money had been saved on the $22 million project when a turn lane was dropped from the contract.

But after adding some new features to the school and accepting the “credit back,” the adjusted cost of the project rose to $23.374 million, he said.

Completion of the school is expected later in the fall.

In a separate decision, the board voted to advertise for bids on new lighting at French Settlement High School’s baseball and softball complex.